In Brief:
The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial prospectively investigated the effectiveness of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis, using health-related quality of life outcomes. From this cohort, 356 patients underwent 1 of 3 fusion methods: posterolateral in situ fusion, posterolateral fusion with pedicle screws, or circumferential fusion, in association with their decompression, and completed at least 1 follow-up survey. With early follow-up, there was variation favoring one fusion method over another. However, at 3 and 4 years, there were no significant differences in outcomes among any of the 3 fusion methods.