Comparison of single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions that underwent reoperation for pseudarthrosis vs those that did not.
| Variable | No Pseudarthrosis Reoperation | Reoperation for Pseudarthrosis | Total | P |
| N | 140 (94.6%) | 8 (5.4%) | 148 | |
| Demographic Characteristics | ||||
| Age, y | 59.6 ± 11.8 | 55.1 ± 12.9 | 59.3 ± 11.9 | 0.304 |
| 18–29 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0.876 |
| 30–41 | 10 (7.1%) | 1 (9.1%) | 11 (7.4%) | |
| 42–53 | 34 (24.3%) | 2 (25.0%) | 36 (24.3%) | |
| 54–65 | 44 (31.4%) | 3 (37.5%) | 47 (31.8%) | |
| ≥66 | 52 (37.1%) | 2 (25.0%) | 54 (36.5%) | |
| Female Gender | 74 (52.9%) | 3 (37.5%) | 77 (52.0%) | 0.398 |
| BMI | 29.0 ± 7.2 | 32.7 ± 8.5 | 39.2 ± 7.3 | 0.155 |
| Current/past smoker | 55 (39.3%) | 4 (50.0%) | 59 (399%) | 0.547 |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index | 2.4 ± 2.1 | 2.9 ± 2.2 | 2.4 ± 2.1 | 0.565 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 (12.9%) | 3 (37.5%) | 21 (14.2%) | 0.052 |
| Diabetes with end-organ damage | 2 (1.4%) | 3 (37.5%) | 5 (3.5%) | <0.001 |
| History of COPD | 8 (5.7%) | 2 (25.0%) | 10 (6.8%) | 0.035 |
| American Society of Anesthesiologist classification | 2.2 ± 0.6 | 2.5 ± 0.9 | 2.3 ± 0.6 | 0.298 |
| Days of follow-up | 679.3 ± 295.1 | 806.9 ± 299.9 | 686.2 ± 390.8 | 0.371 |
| Index Surgery Operative Characteristics | ||||
| Operative time, min | 218.1 ± 63.5 | 251.8 ± 98.7 | 219.9 ± 65.9 | 0.160 |
| Estimated blood loss, mL | 208.0 ± 178.8 | 225.0 ± 92.6 | 208.9 ± 175.0 | 0.791 |
| Fluoroscopic dosage, mGy | 50.8 ± 45.8 | 110.5 ± 91.2 | 54.8 ± 51.6 | 0.003 |
| BMP use | 78 (55.7%) | 3 (37.5%) | 81 (54.7%) | 0.314 |
| Average BMP volume, mL | 1.5 ± 0.4 | 1.4 ± 0.0 | 1.5 ± 0.4 | 0.565 |
| Cancellous allograft use | 98 (70.0%) | 5 (62.5%) | 103 (69.3%) | 0.654 |
| Cancellous allograft volume, mL | 37.1 ± 17.6 | 33.0 ± 6.7 | 36.8 ± 17.2 | 0.612 |
| Local autograft use | 113 (80.7%) | 6 (75.0%) | 119 (80.4%) | 0.692 |
| Iliac crest bone graft use | 6 (4.3%) | 1 (12.5%) | 8 (4.7%) | 0.287 |
| Demineralized bone matrix use | 12 (8.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | 12 (8.1%) | 0.388 |
| Tranexamic acid, mL | 1776.9 ± 961.4 | 3240.2 ± 827.0 | 1922.4 ± 1037.0 | 0.017 |
| Bone marrow aspirate use | 22 (15.7%) | 2 (25.0%) | 24 (16.2%) | 0.488 |
| Cellular bone allograft | 37 (26.4%) | 2 (25.0%) | 39 (26.4%) | 0.929 |
| Expandable cage use | 90 (64.3%) | 6 (75.0%) | 96 (64.9%) | 0.537 |
| Length of stay, d | 3.2 ± 2.7 | 4.3 ± 1.8 | 3.2 ± 2.6 | 0.261 |
| Pseudarthrosis at a minimum of 1 y follow-up | 2 (1.4%) | 8 (80%) | 10 (6.8%) | < 0.001 |
| 0–1 y | 1 (0.75%) | 2 (25.0%) | 3 (2.0%) | < 0.001 |
| 1–2 y | 1 (0.7%) | 5 (62.5%) | 6 (4.1%) | |
| 2+ y | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (12.5%) | 1 (0.7%) | |
| Days to revision surgery | 305.8 ± 279.3 | 536.3 ± 189.1 | 398.0 ± 267.9 | 0.057 |
| Neurological Symptoms After Index Surgery | ||||
| Motor deficit | 2 (1.4%) | 1 (12.5%) | 3 (2.0%) | 0.031 |
| Stenosis | 1 (0.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.810 |
| Radiculopathy | 19 (13.6%) | 2 (25.0%) | 21 (14.2%) | 0.368 |
| Radiculopathy resolved spontaneously without surgery | 5 (26.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | 5 (23.8%) | 0.406 |
| Sensory deficit | 3 (2.1%) | 2 (25.0%) | 5 (3.4%) | <0.001 |
| Persistent pain | 7 (5.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 7 (4.7%) | 0.517 |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; TLIF, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Note: Data presented as n (%) or mean ± SD.