3E.1. A Multimodal Approach to Postoperative Pain Management after Spine Surgery: The Back-Up Plan

Abstract

Life is not without pain. In fact, 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain (National Institute of Health, 2011). Back pain ranks high among the offenders. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2014), approximately 80 percent of adults will have some form of back pain. Although many may recover, others must undergo various medical treatments before surgical intervention becomes a viable solution for relief. Surgical interventions however, are not without risk. These include but are not restricted to more pain, surgical site infection, cardiac and pulmonary complications and even unrealistic patient expectations. Strategies to minimize surgical complications associated with colorectal and total joint arthroplasty surgery have proven to be most effective through programs that optimize patients' physiological status by “Enhancing Recovery After Surgery” (Carli, 2014). It is to this end that the surgical team approach to advanced recovery (STAAR) for lumbar spine surgery was developed. The purpose of the STAAR Program was to explore the benefits of applying an evidenced based, standardized care pathway to patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.