Answer to the letter to the editor of W. Fang, et al. concerning "erector spinae could be the game changer in surgical decision-making in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis: a cross-sectional analysis of an age-, sex, subtype-, level-matched patients with similar spinopelvic parameters received surgical or conservative management" by M.S. Eksi, et al. (Eur Spine J [2024]: doi: 10.1007/s00586-024-08341-3).