Background:

A variety of surgical approaches (anterior vs. posterior vs. anterior and posterior) are available for Isthmic Spondylolisthesis (IS). The aim of our study was to analyze the pattern and 30-day outcomes in patients undergoing different surgical approaches for single-level IS.

Materials and methods:

National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried using the ICD-9/10 and CPT 4^th edition, from 2012 to 2020. We included patients 18-65 years of age who underwent spine fusions for IS. Outcomes were a length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, 30-day complications, hospital readmission, and complication rates.

Results:

Of 1036 patients who underwent spine fusions for IS, 838 patients (80.8%) underwent posterior only, 115 patients (11.1%) underwent anterior-only fusions and the rest (8%) underwent combined anterior and posterior procedures. 60% of patients in the posterior-only cohort had at least one comorbidity compared to 54% of patients in anterior only and 55% of patients in the combined cohort. No statistically significant differences in terms of LOS (3 days each) and discharge to home (96% vs. 93% vs. 94%) were noted among the anterior-only, posterior-only and combined cohorts, p> 0.05. In terms of 30-day complication rates, combined procedures had slightly higher rates (13%) compared to anterior (10%) or posterior-only (9%) procedures.

Conclusion:

Posterior-only fusions were performed in 80% of patients with IS. No differences in terms of LOS, discharge disposition to home, 30-day complications, hospital readmission and reoperation rates were noted across the cohorts.