One- versus Three-- Level Fusion in Patients Undergoing Multilevel Lumbar Decompression: Relative Perioperative Risks and Five-year Revisions.

Three-level lumbar decompression patients who underwent three-level fusion were found to be at significantly greater odds of 90-day postoperative adverse events, readmissions, and five-year reoperations relative to those undergoing one-level fusion. The current data support the concept of limiting fusion to the levels with specific indications in the setting of multi-level lumbar decompressions and not needing to match the decompression and fusion levels.