Spinal Fusion: Idiopathic ERAS

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs promote an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care aimed at facilitating faster recovery from surgery, decreasing hospital length of stay, and minimizing post-operative complications. From scheduling through discharge, all phases of perioperative care are incorporated into ERAS programs.

ERAS Pathway:

• Idiopathic posterior spinal fusion - prior to surgery algorithm
• Idiopathic posterior spinal fusion – intraoperative algorithm
• Idiopathic posterior spinal fusion – inpatient algorithm
• Idiopathic posterior spinal fusion synopsis – provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway

Additional tools associated with this Clinical/ERAS Pathway:

• ERAS overview handout - English
• ERAS overview handout - Spanish

Inclusion and exclusion criteria:

• Inclusion:
  • Patients presenting for a posterior spinal fusion procedure for idiopathic scoliosis
• Exclusion:
  • Neuromuscular patients

Committee members involved in the development:

• Trent Sims, DO, MS | Anesthesiology | Co-Committee Chair
• Emily Weisberg, MD, FASA | Anesthesiology | Co-Committee Chair
• Nichole Doyle, MD, FASA | Anesthesiology | Committee Member
• John Anderson, MD | Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Member
• Aaron Shaw, DO, FAAOS | Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Member
• Michael Benvenuti, MD | Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Member
• Anne Stuedemann, MSN, RN, CPNP | Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Member
• Heather Sambol, RN, APRN | Anesthesiology | Committee Member
• Azita Roberson, FNP-C | Anesthesiology | Committee Member

EBP Committee Members:

• Todd Glenski, MD, MSHA, FASA | Anesthesiology, Evidence Based Practice
• Jarrod Dusin, MS, RD, LD, CPHQ | Evidence Based Practice

Publication dates:

• Finalized date: January 2024
• Next expected revision date: January 2027

Concerns with content:

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu. 

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.