Value in lumbar spine fusion: Minimally invasive versus traditional open surgery

In the evolving healthcare climate, healthcare resource allocation will begin to favor surgical treatments that exhibit value through both clinical and cost-effectiveness. Lumbar pathology is extremely prevalent in the United States, resulting in a substantial portion of healthcare expenditure. Open lumbar fusions are an effective treatment for degenerative lumbar pathology; however, these procedures have exhibited extremely high and potentially unsustainable costs. Minimally invasive (MIS) techniques have previously demonstrated to reduce costs while maintaining or improving clinical effectiveness. The present review addresses the current literature comparing the values of open and MIS lumbar fusion techniques.