Awake Spinal Fusion.

Abstract

»\nAwake spinal fusion (ASF) integrates advancements in surgical techniques and anesthetic modalities with the aim to maximize benefits and improve outcomes from the surgical and anesthetic standpoints.\n\n\n»\nASF employs minimally invasive or endoscopic surgical techniques that are complemented by regional modalities of anesthesia and analgesia.\n\n\n»\nThe current evidence, albeit limited, has shown better results with ASF in terms of postoperative pain scores, a patient s need for opioids, postoperative hospital length of stay, and rehabilitation compared with the conventional technique of open spinal fusion with the patient under general anesthesia.