The impact of type 2 diabetes on the peri- and postoperative outcomes of minimally invasive fusion techniques in the lumbar spine

BACKGROUND: The impact of diabetes on spinal surgery has been studied extensively, but very few studies have focused on minimal access spinal technologies (MAST) and complication rates in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Diabetes increases the risk of wound healing disorders, complication rate and length of stay in the hospital. We focused on the peri- and postoperative complications of MAST in an unelected consecutive population of 187 patients suffering from degenerative disorders lumbar spine disorders. Since mostly older patients are affected by degenerative lumbar changes, we concentrated on T2DM. METHODS: We evaluated perioperative and postoperative complication rates associated with MAST fusion techniques in lumbar spine surgery in patients suffering from T2DM compared to patients without diabetes. Lumbar fusion was performed using interbody and posterolateral fusion. RESULTS: Eighteen female and sixteen male patients suffered from T2DM (15.65% and 22.22% respectively). No differences between patients with and without T2DM concerning surgery-related complications including infections, severe wound healing disorders or length of in-hospital stay were noted. Peri- or postoperative complication rates, as well as blood loss volumes, were evenly distributed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM is not a risk factor for the occurrence of complications in MAST.