Clinical outcomes and complications.
| Total Patients(n = 47) | Decompression Alone Cohort (n = 27) | Decompression + Fusion Cohort (n = 20) | P Value | |
| Clinical outcomes, % (n) | ||||
| Neurologic exam at latest follow-up | ||||
| Improved | 53.2% (25) | 59.3% (16) | 45% (9) | 0.39 |
| Stable | 36.2% (17) | 29.6% (8) | 45% (9) | 0.36 |
| Worse | 10.6% (5) | 11.1% (3) | 10% (2) | 1 |
| Posthospital disposition | ||||
| Discharged home | 36.1% (17) | 37% (10) | 35% (7) | 1 |
| Skilled nursing facility | 27.7% (13) | 18.5% (5) | 40% (8) | 0.19 |
| Rehabilitation | 17% (8) | 22.2% (6) | 10% (2) | 0.44 |
| Long-term acute care facility | 19.1% (9) | 22.2% (6) | 15% (3) | 0.71 |
| Length of stay, d | 14.9 | 13.5 | 16.7 | 0.13 |
| 30-day Readmission | 14.9% (7) | 7.4% (2) | 25% (5) | 0.12 |
| Complications, % (n) | ||||
| Operative complications | ||||
| Total | 12.8% (6) | 11.1% (3) | 15% (3) | 1 |
| Durotomy | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Wound dehiscence requiring take back | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Wound infection requiring take back | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |
| Superficial wound dehiscence | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Postoperative seroma | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |
| Brachial plexopathy | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |
| Medical complications | ||||
| Total | 12.8% (6) | 7.4% (2) | 20% (4) | 0.38 |
| Deep vein thrombosis | 4.3% (2) | 7.4% (2) | 0% (0) | 0.50 |
| Metabolic encephalopathy | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |
| Pneumonia | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |
| Respiratory failure | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |
| Urinary tract infection | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 0.43 |