Patient and family experiences with peri-operative care for spinal fusion surgery

Abstract

Children with medical complexity (CMC) require increased number and length of hospitalizations, and increased need for care coordination.1-3 Many complex children with neuromuscular diseases have scoliosis, or a deformity of the spine. Often, scoliosis in these patients affects multiple organ systems and requires spinal fusion surgery to repair the deformity and decrease the likelihood of further organ damage.4,5 While it is well-known that spinal fusion surgery is costly and a high-risk procedure, little research has evaluated the perioperative process of spinal fusion patients. Furthermore, few care pathways exist for medically complex patients undergoing spinal fusions.6 This study examines the pre-, peri-, and post-operative experiences of families of patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. Providers, organization, leadership and teamwork, and overall outcomes are assessed by this qualitative study. Initial data suggest that a pathway improving coordination and communication, especially among interactions with the surgical coordinator, should be implemented to improve scheduling of surgery and appointments throughout the perioperative process