The effect of enhanced recovery protocols on postoperative rehabilitation in orthopedic surgery patients

Abstract

Orthopedics is a critical hospital department that has experienced shifts in the spectrum of orthopedic conditions due to societal advancements in recent years. While surgical interventions are effective in restoring fracture function, perioperative care remains a key factor in optimizing patient recovery. This study aims to assess the impact of orthopedic rehabilitation care based on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol on postoperative rehabilitation. A total of 836 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery from June 2023 to June 2024 were included in the study. They were divided into a control group, which received standard care, and an observation group, which received care interventions based on ERAS principles. Recovery outcomes were assessed by measuring hospital stay duration, fracture healing time, joint function recovery time, and the incidence of complications in both groups. The observation group showed significantly shorter hospital stays, faster fracture healing times, and quicker joint function recovery compared with the control group. Furthermore, the incidence of complications was notably lower in the observation group. Postoperative joint function recovery scores and patient satisfaction were also higher in the observation group, with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (P < .05). ERAS-based care enhances orthopedic recovery by reducing hospital stays, accelerating functional recovery, lowering complications, and improving patient satisfaction, proving its effectiveness in perioperative cares, and should be widely implemented in orthopedic rehabilitation.