25-Year back surgery review questions need for spinal fusions

This study looked back at 25 years of medical records to compare different surgeries for a common back problem called lumbar spinal stenosis. Researchers analyzed 246 patients who had either a less invasive decompression surgery, that same surgery plus a nerve procedure, or a more involved fusion surgery. The goal was to learn which patients do well with simpler procedures and which ones truly need the more complex fusion, to help guide future treatment decisions.