Physical Therapy Postoperative Guideline for the Child Following Posterior Spinal Fusion with Instrumentation

Purpose: This poster aims to present the pediatric physical therapy (PT) management of the child following posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with instrumentation at an urban-based elective orthopedic hospital. This poster will present the PT guideline established to manage the child following PSF with instrumentation including the acute postoperative phase, achieving the patient-centered PT goals before hospital discharge, followed by intensive outpatient PT.

Description: There are no established postoperative PSF with instrumentation guidelines for PTs to refer to when working with these children. Postoperative PSF with instrumentation PT guidelines was developed by the clinical staff of PTs and pediatric orthopedic surgeons at this institution. The postoperative PT management in this population is based on current literature, research, and clinical expertise and supports the World Health Organization International Classification of Function, Disability, and Health (WHO-ICF) framework for patient-centered care.

Summary of Use: The use of postoperative PT guidelines following PSF with instrumentation in the pediatric population will provide evidence-based evaluation and intervention recommendations for each postoperative phase will inform PTs on best practice standards and will assist with the acute and long-term postoperative management of this population. In addition, the establishment and use of postoperative PT guidelines in the management of children undergoing PSF with instrumentation will educate PTs and decrease the variation of PT management.

Importance to Members: The establishment and use of postoperative PT guidelines following PSF with instrumentation will standardize the PT management of children following spinal surgery, which may improve the quality of care and patient outcomes.