Complications:
OKalanithi et al performed a database study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 1993-2002 of 66,601 patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion for acquired spondylolisthesis. The authors found that older patients (65-84 y) and those with more comorbidities (3 or more) had greater rates of in-hospital complications and complex disposition. Patients aged 65-84 years were almost 70% more likely to have complications and 5 times as likely to have complex disposition.