Computer-assisted Navigation in Lumbar Spine Instrumented Fusions: Comparison of In-hospital and 30-Day Postoperative Complications With Nonnavigated Fusions in a National Database.

Although use of computer-assisted navigation in short-segment lumbar spine fusions (1 to 3 levels) did not decrease revision rates for screw misplacement within 30 days postoperatively, it independently reduced the frequency of blood transfusions and minor complications and decreased hospital lengths of stay compared with operations without navigation. These benefits came at the expense of increased surgical times and wound dehiscences within 30 days postoperatively. Given the inherent limitations of large national databases, these results warrant confirmation through prospective, multicenter investigations.