Demographic characteristics of patients who underwent TLIF vs PLF.
| Variables | TLIF (N = 591) | PLF (N = 259) | P Value |
| Age, y, mean ± SD | 59.0 ± 11.3 | 63.3 ± 12.6 | <0.001a |
| Gender (men), n (%) | 258 (43.7) | 119 (46.1) | 0.518 |
| Race (White), n (%) | 523 (88.5) | 230 (88.8) | 0.263 |
| BMI, mean ± SD | 31.3 ± 6.6 | 30.2 ± 12.6 | 0.019a |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| 0 | 114 (19.3) | 41 (15.8) | 0.472 |
| 1–2 | 365 (61.7) | 165 (63.7) | |
| >2 | 112 (20.0) | 53 (20.5) | |
| Hypertension | 352 (59.6) | 166 (64.1) | 0.213 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 115 (19.5) | 54 (20.8) | 0.640 |
| CAD | 85 (14.4) | 38 (14.8) | 0.912 |
| CHF | 12 (2.0) | 4 (1.5) | 0.631 |
| COPD | 18 (3.0) | 12 (4.6) | 0.248 |
| Osteoporosis | 11 (1.9) | 8 (3.1) | 0.265 |
| Active smoker, n (%) | 92 (15.6) | 28 (10.8) | 0.071 |
| Insurance, n (%)a | 0.001a | ||
| Private | 297 (50.3) | 101 (39.0) | |
| Public | 231 (39.1) | 140 (54.1) | |
| Military | 59 (10.0) | 18 (7.3) | |
| Uninsured | 3 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Currently employed, n (%) | 271 (45.9) | 87 (33.6) | 0.001a |
| Return to work, n (%) | 219 (80.8) | 70 (80.4) | 0.645 |
| Preoperative ambulation, n (%) | 0.530 | ||
| Independent | 433 (73.3) | 181 (69.9) | |
| With assistance | 153 (25.9) | 77 (29.7) | |
| Wheelchair-bound | 2 (0.3) | 1 (0.4) | |
| Duration of symptoms, n (%)a | 0.684 | ||
| <3 mo | 29 (6.0) | 9 (4.6) | |
| 3–12 mo | 127 (26.3) | 49 (25.0) | |
| >12 mo | 326 (67.6) | 138 (70.4) | |
| Diagnosis, n (%) | 0.199 | ||
| Stenosis | 119 (20.1) | 48 (18.5) | |
| Pseudarthrosis | 3 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Spondylolisthesis | 413 (69.9) | 185 (71.4) | |
| Other | 56 (9.4) | 26 (10.0) |
↵a Missing values.
BMI, body mass index; CAD, coronary artery disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PLF, posterolateral fusion; TLIF, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.