Purpose:

Retrospective observational cohort study of primary adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery during the transitional period prior to and after the implementation of Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR) at a single center. We sought to determine if ESR reduces in-hospital and 90-day post-operative opioid consumption for ASD surgery.

Methods:

We evaluated patients undergoing primary ASD surgery in the transition period prior to (N = 29) and after (N = 56) adoption of ESR, comparing in-hospital and 90-day post-operative opioid consumption. Regression analysis was used to control for confounders including age, number of surgical levels, surgical approach, staged vs same-day surgery, insurance type and pre-op opioid use.

Results:

Mean age of the cohort was 53 years with 57 (60%) females. Regression analysis showed that pre-operative opioid use and number of levels fused were associated with higher in-hospital and 90-day post-operative opioid consumption, while use of ESR was associated with lower in-hospital and 90-day post-operative opioid consumption. Secondary analysis showed that patients on ESR ambulated earlier (0.6 days vs 1.1, p = 0.028) and had their urinary catheter removed earlier (2.7 days vs 3.9, p = 0.006) compared to non-ESR patients.

Conclusions:

ESR was associated with a significantly decreased in-hospital and 90-day post-operative opioid consumption and earlier mobilization with earlier urinary catheter removal in patients undergoing primary ASD surgery. These results demonstrate ESR’s potential to improve outcomes in ASD perioperative care.

Level of evidence:

3.