Techniques of lumbar-sacral spine fusion in spondylosis: systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

8 RCTs (1136 patients) were reviewed in this meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of posterior (PLIF) or anterior (ALIF) interbody fusions to posterolateral spinal fusion in the surgical treatment of patients with lumbar-sacral spondylosis. Despite comparable final outcomes, moderate to low evidence indicated that interbody fusion had less blood loss and improved fusion rates, but longer operative time and more complication rates compared to posterolateral technique.