The utility of surgical drains in adult and pediatric posterior spinal fusion: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical drains are utilized in spinal surgery to reduce the incidence of epidural hematomas (EDHs) and to facilitate optimal wound healing. Despite their widespread use, there is a paucity of data to support their utility. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare the effect of using drains versus no drains on postoperative outcomes in adult and pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusions for deformity or degenerative conditions.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Functional Outcomes of Symptomatic Postoperative Spinal Epidural Hematoma: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Symptomatic postoperative spinal epidural hematomas (PEDHs) are rare complications, with significant implications on patients' functional outcomes. Strategies for PEDH prevention are poorly understood. This study sought to evaluate preoperative and intraoperative variables predicting the risk of PEDH and patients' functional outcomes after PEDH evacuation.

Lumbar Facet Arthroplasty Versus Fusion for Grade-I Degenerative Spondylolisthesis with Stenosis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The comparative effectiveness of decompression plus lumbar facet arthroplasty versus decompression plus instrumented lumbar spinal fusion in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and grade-I degenerative spondylolisthesis is unknown.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled, Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemption trial, we assigned patients who had single-level lumbar spinal stenosis and grade-I degenerative spondylolisthesis to undergo decompression plus lumbar facet arthroplasty (arthroplasty group) or decompression plus fusion (fusion group). The primary outcome was a predetermined composite clinical success score.