Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39586884›Full record

SynthesisNeurosurgical review2024

The utility of surgical drains in adult and pediatric posterior spinal fusion: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gnel Pivazyan, Carlynn G Winters, Jean-Paul Bryant, Ziam Khan, Kelsey D Cobourn, David L Skaggs, Jean-Marc Voyadzis, Mani N Nair, Faheem A Sandhu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurosurgical review, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Gnel PivazyanDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, PHC 7, Washington, 20007, DC, USA. pivazyangnel@gmail.com.
Carlynn G WintersGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Jean-Paul BryantDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, PHC 7, Washington, 20007, DC, USA.
Ziam KhanUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kelsey D CobournDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, PHC 7, Washington, 20007, DC, USA.
David L SkaggsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Jean-Marc VoyadzisDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, PHC 7, Washington, 20007, DC, USA.
Mani N NairDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, PHC 7, Washington, 20007, DC, USA.
Faheem A SandhuDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, PHC 7, Washington, 20007, DC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Surgical drains are utilized in spinal surgery to reduce the incidence of epidural hematomas (EDHs) and to facilitate optimal wound healing. Despite their widespread use, there is a paucity of data to support their utility. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare the effect of using drains versus no drains on postoperative outcomes in adult and pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusions for deformity or degenerative conditions. The following outcomes were assessed: SSIs, EDHs, reoperations, transfusions, and length of stay (LOS). A systematic review of the literature in databases was conducted for all relevant literature. Exclusion criteria included single level decompressions, minimally invasive fusions, anterior-only approaches, and any surgical procedures performed for tumor, trauma, and osteomyelitis. Forest plots for Odds Ratios (ORs) and Mean Differences (MDs) were generated using random effects model. The search identified 2,210 titles, of which 11 studies were chosen for final analysis. 5 studies involved pediatric patients, while 6 included adult patients. A total of 3293 patients were analyzed-2,060 had a drain, and 1,233 had no drain. There were no statistically significant differences in the ORs of SSIs, EDHs, reoperations, and transfusions. LOS in adults was higher in the Drain group (MD 1.36 days 95% CI 0.25 - 2.47). This meta-analysis found no benefit in surgical drains in posterior spinal fusion in reducing the incidence of SSI, EDH, and reoperation. Drains may be associated with longer LOS in the adult population. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023417315.

Indexed as

DrainageSpinal FusionAdultChildHumansLength of StayPostoperative ComplicationsEpidural hematomaSpine surgerySurgical drainsSurgical site infection

Identifiers

PMID39586884

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.