The Usage of Chewing Gum in Posterior Spinal Fusion Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chan CY¹, Chiu CK, Lee CK, Gani SM, Mohamad SM, Hasan MS, Kwan MK.

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Abstract

STUDY DESIGN:

Randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE:

This study investigated on the effectiveness of chewing gum on promoting faster bowel function and its ability to hasten recovery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients following posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:

Sham feeding with chewing gum had been reported to reducethe incidence of post-operative ileus by accelerating recovery of bowel function.

METHODS:

We prospectively recruited and randomized 60 AIS patients scheduled for PSF surgery into treatment (chewing gum) and control group.The patient controlled anesthesia usage, wound pain score, abdominal pain score, nausea score and abdominal girth were assessed and recorded at 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 hours post-operatively. The timing for the first fluid intake, first oral intake, sitting up, walking, first flatus after surgery, first bowel opening after surgery and duration of hospital stay were also assessed and recorded.

RESULTS:

We found that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) patient controlled anesthesia usage, wound pain score, abdominal pain score, nausea score and abdominal girth between treatment (chewing gum) and control groups. We also found that therewere no significant difference (p > 0.05) in post-operative recovery parameters which were the first fluid intake, first oral intake, sitting up after surgery, walking after surgery, first flatus after surgery, first bowel opening after surgery and duration of hospital stay between both groups. The wound pain was the worst at 12 hours post-operatively which progressively improved in both groups. The abdominal pain progressively worsened to the highest score at 48 hours in the treatment group and 36 hours in the control group before improving after that. The pattern of severity and recovery of wound pain and abdominal pain were different.