Postoperative Orders
- Routine VS, diet
- HOB, positioning, activity, bathing: Prone position for 1–3 days after surgery. Bathing is possible 3 days after surgery.
- Medications and dosages including PRN drugs: Dexamethasone is discontinued the day after surgery. Antibiotics are used only perioperatively.
- Laboratory studies: Laboratory studies are obtained as needed for infected cases.
- Physical therapy and orthotics: Postoperative physiotherapy is recommended for patients with neurological deficits.
- Consultations: Infectious disease consultation should be obtained for complicated cases with abscesses; a urological consultation is needed for neurogenic bladder; and an orthopedic consultation should be obtained in cases with lower extremity deformities.
Postoperative Morbidity
- More likely with infection: Infection of the CSF space is associated with significant arachnoiditis and adhesions. This can result in meningitis, neurological deficits in the lower extremities, and bowel and bladder dysfunction.