7 randomized controlled trials with a total of 465 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of unilateral and bilateral instrumentation in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Findings indicated no significant differences between the two methods of instrumentation in complication rate, patient-reported outcomes, length of stay, or fusion rate. Blood loss was borderline statistically significant lower following unilateral versus bilateral instrumentation (p=0.05). Operative time was found to be significantly shorter with unilateral versus bilateral instrumentation.
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