Surgery in degenerative spondylolisthesis: does fusion improve outcome in subgroups? A secondary analysis from a randomized trial (NORDSTEN trial)
There is an ongoing debate on whether additional fusion surgery is superior to decompression alone in patients with spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. Previous studies and one recently published randomized controlled trial (RCT) support additional fusion in these patients [1–3]. However, the results of two RCTs have contradicted these findings [4,5]. As a consequence, there is great diversity in the management of degenerative spondylolisthesis on both national and individual levels [6].