Nursing Interventions in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Improving Satisfaction and Patient Care

Background: Posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with substantial postoperative pain, functional limitations, and variable recovery trajectories. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are multidisciplinary, evidence-based pathways designed to attenuate surgical stress, accelerate convalescence, and improve patient experience. Nurses are central to ERAS implementation across the perioperative continuum. Objective: To synthesize current evidence on nursing interventions within ERAS pathways for AIS and evaluate their impact on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Methods: Targeted literature review of systematic reviews and peer-reviewed studies on ERAS for AIS and nursing roles in ERAS across spine surgery, supplemented by pediatric spine patient-reported satisfaction studies. Sources prioritized meta-analyses, cohort studies, and clinical guidance (2018–2024). Findings: ERAS protocols for AIS consistently reduce hospital length of stay and opioid consumption without increasing complications or readmissions, highlighting the value of coordinated, multidisciplinary care with strong nursing leadership. Nursing-led components, preoperative counseling and expectation management, standardized multimodal analgesia delivery and monitoring, early mobilization facilitation, proactive prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), early oral intake and nutrition optimization, catheter/drain stewardship, and psychosocial support, are strongly associated with smoother recovery trajectories and high patient satisfaction. Prospective AIS data show very high satisfaction with enhanced discharge/ERAS-style pathways despite shorter stays, with perceived readiness and effective pain control as key drivers. Conclusions: Nursing interventions are foundational to ERAS success in AIS. Standardizing nurse-led elements and measuring adherence can further improve outcomes and experience.