Impact of Postoperative Bracing Following Spinal Fusion for Degenerative Lumbar Conditions: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

研究概要

Five randomized controlled trials including 362 patients with degenerative lumbar conditions were analyzed in this meta-analysis to compare outcomes between patients receiving postoperative bracing and those not using braces. The pooled outcomes of interest included pain relief (measured by VAS scores), functional recovery (ODI scores), fusion rates, and complication rates. While trends favored bracing for early functional recovery and late pain relief, none of the differences reached statistical significance. Fusion rates and complication rates were also comparable between the groups. The findings suggest that postoperative bracing does not significantly impact clinical outcomes, questioning its routine use after lumbar fusion surgery.