Patient, Optimized: Exploring the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol in Orthopaedics .

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols mark a shift in orthopaedics: instead of relying solely on implants and surgical techniques, recovery is increasingly shaped by peri-operative strategies before, during, and after the operation. First introduced in general surgery in the 1990s, ERAS has since expanded to orthopaedics, with guidelines now covering hip and knee arthroplasty and spinal fusion. By combining multimodal interventions—ranging from preoperative education and optimization, to standardized anesthetic and analgesic protocols, early mobilization, and criteria-based discharge—ERAS aims to shorten hospital stays, reduce complications, cut opioid use, and improve functional recovery. Recent evidence shows significant gains in disease-specific outcomes and length of stay, though results vary by procedure and protocol design. While limitations remain, especially in standardization and long-term data, ERAS offers a promising framework for safer, faster, and more cost-effective orthopaedic recovery.