5 6 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E A U G U S T 2 0 1 7
Dr. Liu's multimodal approach consists of gabapentinoids and acetaminophen
administered 24 hours before surgery, an intraoperative injection of long-acting
bupivacaine into soft tissue, one dose of an NSAID after surgery, and continuing
with gabapentinoids and acetaminophen, as needed, after surgery. "It's really the
first 2 or 3 days that are the worst for pain," he says. "Once you get past that,
things tend to be much easier."
Before attempting outpatient spinal fusion, you need to make sure patients
are on board with the idea. "Some people just can't accept the concept of going
home after spinal surgery," says Dr. Liu. "They need to be psychologically and
mentally ready to go through the operation, then get into the car and go home
the same day."
OSM
