Long-Term Refined Paraspinal Muscle Exercises Combined with ERAS Protocol Enhance Postoperative Recovery Following...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) surgery requires effective rehabilitation strategies for optimal patient outcomes.
• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols typically focus on short-term recovery with basic exercises.
• The role of long-term, targeted paraspinal muscle exercises in conjunction with ERAS protocols for PLIF patients remains an area for investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of long-term refined paraspinal muscle exercises on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PLIF surgery.
• To compare the efficacy of ERAS short-term rehabilitation with combined ERAS and long-term paraspinal exercises.
• To evaluate the effects on musculoskeletal and psychological recovery post-PLIF.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 298 PLIF patients, divided into an ERAS short-term (ERAS-ST) group and an ERAS combined with long-term paraspinal exercises (ERAS-LT) group.
• The ERAS-LT group performed specific paraspinal exercises for at least 12 months post-surgery.
• Clinical outcomes including pain (VAS), disability (ODI), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and muscle strength (HHD) were measured at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• The ERAS-LT group demonstrated significantly superior outcomes in pain reduction, functional recovery, and psychological well-being compared to the ERAS-ST group.
• Patients in the ERAS-LT group experienced faster physical and psychological recovery.
• Significant improvements in paraspinal muscle strength were observed in the ERAS-LT group.

Conclusions:

• Combining ERAS short-term rehabilitation with long-term refined paraspinal muscle exercises significantly enhances postoperative recovery in PLIF patients.
• This integrated approach improves pain management, functional restoration, muscle strength, and psychological health.
• The findings support the incorporation of long-term paraspinal exercise regimens into standard clinical rehabilitation protocols for PLIF surgery.