Are there ERAS protocols to help recovery after scoliosis surgery?

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are multidisciplinary, evidence-based approaches used to improve care for patients undergoing spinal surgery. These protocols aim to replace older methods, which often involved long periods of immobility, with standardized care to help patients recover faster and more comfortably.

What the research says

ERAS protocols for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) focus on several key areas: preoperative education and optimization, multimodal intraoperative pain management, blood conservation, and early mobilization. These protocols also include a faster transition to oral pain medications after surgery ⁵.

Research indicates that these protocols can significantly improve outcomes. In studies of patients with AIS, ERAS protocols consistently reduced the length of hospital stays by 25% to 55% ⁵. These programs also helped patients begin moving sooner after surgery and reduced the amount of opioids used without increasing pain levels or complication rates ⁵.

While ERAS is being used to optimize care for adolescent patients, it is also being integrated into the management of complex adult spinal deformities. These protocols aim to improve outcomes for complex patients by standardizing care for issues like pain management, nausea, and early mobilization ⁶. Ongoing research is continuing to evaluate the specific effectiveness and safety of ERAS protocols for various types of scoliosis correction surgery ¹.

What to ask your doctor

• Does your surgical team use an ERAS protocol for my scoliosis surgery?
• How does an ERAS approach change my pain management and use of opioids after surgery?
• What are the goals for my mobility and physical activity in the first few days after surgery?
• How does an ERAS protocol impact the expected length of my hospital stay?