Is Routine Use of Drain Really Necessary for Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery? A Retrospective Case Series with a Historical Control Group.

No hematoma-related neurological deficits or reoperations caused by epidural hematoma and SSI were observed in the no-drain group. The no-drain group did not show significantly more frequent postoperative complications than the drain use group, hence the routine insertion of a drain following PLIF should be reconsidered carefully.