Lumbar Fusion for Spondylolisthesis: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This was a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

We aimed to assess the comparative efficacies of the 5 most commonly used procedures for spondylolisthesis in a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Lumbar fusion procedures are the backbone for the surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis. However, the current evidence has only considered head-to-head comparisons of different fusion procedures and failed to definitively favor one fusion procedure over another.

A Bayesian random-effects model was used, and radiographic fusion and complications were assessed by risk ratio with a corresponding 95% credible interval; Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were assessed by mean difference and 95% credible interval. Furthermore, with respect to each endpoint, ranking probabilities for each fusion procedure were evaluated using the value of the surface under the cumulative ranking curve.

In all, 12 studies were identified. Significant differences in associated complications were found between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MTLIF) and each of the other 4 fusion procedures. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve results suggested that for the most effective radiographic fusion, open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (OTLIF) had the maximum probability of being successful (76.6%), followed by MTLIF (70.4%) and open posterior lumbar interbody fusion (OPLIF, 48.7%). In terms of ODI scores, OTLIF might be the best intervention (70.5%), followed by MTLIF (68.8%) and then OPLIF (44.0%). However, MTLIF is ranked the safest (99.8%) regarding associated complications, followed sequentially by OTLIF (57.1%) and posterolateral fusion (30.1%).

OTLIF for spondylolisthesis was found to be the more efficient procedure in terms of radiographic fusion and ODI scores. Importantly, MTLIF is most likely to have a lower associated complication rate compared with other fusion procedures.