Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols for spine patients didn't improve some patient outcomes measurements at one center, but other factors may have affected results, according to a study in the October issue of The Spine Journal.
The study evaluated spine patients who had surgery at the Integrated Spine Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas between September 2016 and September 2021. Patients who had ERAS protocols implemented and those who didn't were compared to evaluate the policy's effectiveness.
Patients who were in the ERAS group had higher rates of UTIs, constipation, the study found. Complications rates, lengths of stay and readmissions didn't have any significant differences between the two groups.
The study concluded that "There may have been confounding factors due to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of care, as well as misalignment between ERAS goals and outcome measures."