OBJECTIVES: Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion is used to treat mechanical back-pain and radicular pain associated with spondylolisthesis due to arthritis, herniated disc or spinal stenosis.  This procedure is performed either in the traditional open technique (o-TLIF) or using minimally invasive (m-TLIF) techniques. The goal of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to compare various outcomes when comparing treatments for lumbar spine conditions using the “standard” open fusion (o-TLIF) versus minimally invasive surgical fusion (m-TLIF).   METHODS: Prospective and retrospective cohort studies comparing o-TLIF to m-TLIF were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane libraries, and reference lists from selected studies.  Of the 15 selected for full-text review, 4 were excluded because they used the wrong surgical technique, did not include m-TLIF, or did not measure the desired outcomes.  Effects sizes (relative risks and standardized mean differences) were calculated using both fixed- and random-effects models.  RESULTS: Eleven cohort studies (N=554 patients) were included in the review (N=259, o-TLIF; and N=294, m-TLIF).  Average follow-up ranged from 12 – 24 months.  Random-effects models were used due to the high heterogeneity across studies for each outcome (53.1% - 93.5%).  Use of m-TLIF was associated with a 420 mL decrease in blood loss when compared to o-TLIF (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -1.57, 95% CI: -2.14 to -0.99, p<0.0001). Operating Room (OR) time was significantly longer with a 33 minute increase for those undergoing m-TLIF (SMD = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.24 to 1.55, p = 0.007).  CONCLUSIONS: While most outcomes did not differ between the two procedures, m-TLIF was associated with significantly lower blood loss despite longer OR time.  In the appropriate clinical population, m-TLIF may be the favorable TLIF procedure for treatment of back pain and radicular pain in patients with spondylolisthesis due to arthritis, herniated disc or spinal stenosis.