Atuação da fisioterapia no pós-operatório de artrodese na coluna vertebral: revisão de literatura

Introduction: Spinal arthrodesis is a surgical procedure widely used in the treatment of degenerative diseases, deformities, and spinal instability. Physiotherapy plays an essential role in postoperative functional recovery by minimizing complications, reducing pain, and promoting a safe return to activities of daily living, thereby highlighting the importance of investigating the scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness. Objective: To analyze the contributions of physiotherapy to the functional recovery process of patients undergoing spinal arthrodesis surgery. Materials and Methods: This qualitative, descriptive study was conducted through a literature review. The search was performed in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and MEDLINE databases. A total of 147 studies were initially identified, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected for the final sample. The studies were analyzed using a descriptive and comparative approach, considering their objectives, methodology, and main findings. Results: The analyzed studies demonstrated that physiotherapy significantly contributes to pain reduction, improved mobility, muscle strengthening, gait recovery, increased functional capacity, and enhanced quality of life in patients undergoing spinal arthrodesis. The findings also indicated that structured rehabilitation protocols initiated early in the postoperative period lead to better clinical outcomes, although differences remain regarding the standardization of interventions and the superiority of specific physiotherapeutic techniques. Scientific Contribution: This review synthesizes the available evidence on physiotherapeutic interventions in the postoperative management of spinal arthrodesis, bringing together findings from different rehabilitation protocols while highlighting areas of agreement, disagreement, and existing knowledge gaps. The results provide support for clinical practice and reinforce the need for individualized, evidence-based rehabilitation protocols. Conclusion: Physiotherapy plays an indispensable role in the functional recovery of patients undergoing spinal arthrodesis by promoting significant benefits in pain reduction, functional restoration, and quality of life improvement. However, further studies with greater methodological rigor and long-term follow-up are needed to standardize rehabilitation protocols and strengthen the current scientific evidence.