title: Efficacy and complications of patient-controlled analgesia treatment after spinal surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative pain is one of the most common therapeutic problems in hospitals. Patient-controlled analgesia has gained popularity over the last decade in dealing with this problem. The goal of this article is to examine the effect of PCA in patients who underwent spinal fusion and to measure its effect on the different sexes and age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred thirty-seven patients who underwent spinal fusion for lumbar instability at our institution comprise this study. All patients received PCA in a certain protocol. Pain was measured according to the VAS, and any complications due to the use of PCA were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient-controlled analgesia reduced the VAS in all age groups. Reduction in VAS was higher in the age group of 60 years or more. No significant differences in VAS reduction were noted between males and females. In 40% of our patients, complications were recorded. Eight percent reported more than 1 complication. However, these complications were nonfatal, and all patients responded well to conservative treatment. On termination of the study, most patients (213/237) were satisfied with the PCA procedure for reducing their pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that PCA is an effective and safe method with high satisfaction rate in postoperative pain control in patients who undergo spinal fusion.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Care Unit, Sapir Medical Center, Meir Hospital, 57 Tchernichovski Street, Kfar-Saba 44281, Israel.
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gepstein
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arinzon
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Folman
authors.forename: Ishay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shuval
authors.forename: Shay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shabat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics