Effects of Intra-Operative Ropivaciane Epidural Injection on Post-Operative Outcomes Following Elective Lumbar Fusion

This double blinded, randomized clinical trial will test hypotheses by administering a single epidural injection prior to wound closure of either Ropivaciane® or saline.All pre-surgical activities and anesthesia will proceed as usual, with the addition of a single epidural injection immediately prior to wound closure 2 levels, or 10cm above the operated spinal level. Experimental groups will receive 0.2% Ropivaciane® (10 ml; dose shown to be effective without transient weakness), 9 and the control group will receive 0.9% saline solution (10 ml). Accurate placement into the space will be verified by the injection of contrast medium (iohexol, 180 mgl/ml) under fluoroscopic guidance. Epidural solutions will be prepared prior to surgery by pharmacy and coded; surgeons will administer according to the patient's code maintaining the double-blind procedure. It is important to note that treatment as usual differs between open and MIS cohorts. The question of interest is whether the addition of the epidural analgesic to current practices for each surgery type results in increased positive outcomes, whether this is due to synergistic effects or not. Following operative treatment, Foley Urinary catheter will be removed 24 hours post-operatively, unless otherwise clinically indicated.