Table 5.

Summary of postoperative complications.

Complications	Laminectomy-only (n = 21)	Lateral mass screw (n = 17)	P value∗
New/worsening sensory symptom	2 (9.5%)	2 (11.8%)	0.758
New/worsening weakness	1 (4.8%)	1 (5.9%)	0.564
CSF leak	1 (4.8%)	1 (5.9%)	0.564
Wound infection	1 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0.915
Spinal instability	6 (28.6%)	0 (0.0%)	<0.001
Spinal deformity	2 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	<0.001
Spinal instability/deformity	8 (38.1%)	0 (0.0%)	<0.001

CSF: cerebrospinal fluid. ^∗By Fisher's exact test.