One or Two Drains for the Treatment of Surgical Site Infections After Lumbar Spine Surgery

•Single-tube and double-tube drainage methods were compared for treating SSI.•Retrospective analysis was performed of 1125 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who underwent lumbar surgery.•Risk factors, pathogenic bacteria/antibiotic therapy, laboratory results, and drainage did not differ between methods.•Patients in the single-drain group had better clinical outcome and shorter hospital stay.