Erector Spinae Plane Block vs Local Infiltration Following Fusion Surgery

The proposed intervention will examine two alternative methods for postoperative pain control. Two treatment arms of this study will include subjects who receive an erector spinae block (ESP) after induction of anesthesia but prior to the start of surgery and subjects who will receive a high volume of local anesthetic infiltration at the end of the procedure before emergence from anesthesia. The control group of subjects will undergo spinal surgery with general anesthesia but without any regional anesthesia. Outcome measurements include evaluation of serum inflammatory markers, pain scores, opioid usage and standardized evidence-based assessment methodologies.