Mapping the Road to Recovery: Shorter Stays and Satisfied Patients in Posterior Spinal Fusion.

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) experience variations in their hospital care, which may lead to differences in objective and patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that using plan of care-educating families preoperatively and standardizing some aspects of care-would decrease time to mobility and time to discharge while maintaining pain control and patient satisfaction.

Methods: Chart review was conducted in 3 groups-preprotocol (December 2008 to December 2009, n=51), first protocol (December 2, 2009 to July 24, 2013, n=100), and second protocol (July 25, 2013 to June 1, 2014, n=39)-to track pain scores (0 to 10), time to regular diet, Foley catheter removal, epidural catheter removal, mobility, and discharge.