Table 2: Comparison of Outcomes between Epidural Strategies

Continuous Outcome POD1-Group POD2-Group p-Value
Median Mean 95% CI Median Mean 95% CI
Length of stay (in days)* 3 3.2 (3.1, 3.4) 4 4.0 (3.7, 4.4) <0.001
Pain scores at post-op day 2 (0-10, 10 worse) 7 6.4 (5.6, 7.2) 7 6.8 (6.0, 7.6) 0.445
Continuous passive motion (in degrees) at post-op day 2 55 49.6 (40.4, 58.8) 70 64.9 (55.3, 74.6) 0.031
Distance walked (in feet) on post-op day 2 10 37.9 (24.3, 51.5) 3 9.3 (2.5, 16.1) < 0.001
Passive flexion (in degrees) at POD1 68 66.0 (61.6, 70.4) 80 73.4 (67.3, 79.5) 0.045
Passive flexion (in degrees) at discharge 80 75.9 (71.3, 80.5) 88 81.9 (77.0, 86.9) 0.078
Change in passive flexion (degrees), 11.5 11.1 (6.1, 16.1) 6 9.2 (1.3, 17.0) 0.665
Passive extension (degrees lacking full extension) at POD1 10 9.5 (7.3, 11.7) 5 5.5 (3.7, 7.4) 0.013
Passive extension (degrees lacking full extension) at discharge 5 7.1 (4.7, 9.4) 3.5 3.9 (2.2, 5.5) 0.047
Change in passive extension (in degrees), 2 2.7 (1.0, 4.3) 0 1.5 (-0.6, 3.5) 0.356
Categorical Outcome N % 95% CI N % 95% CI p-value
Independent or minimally assisted walking at discharge§ 42 76.4% (65.1, 87.6) 24 72.7% (57.5, 87.9) 0.703
Discharged to rehab§ 32 58.2% (45.2, 71.2) 21 61.8% (45.4, 78.1) 0.738

95% CI in parentheses.
* The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to make comparisons between groups.
Independent samples t-test was used to make comparisons between groups.
Positive values represent an improvement in passive flexion or extension.
§ Chi-square test of independence was used to make comparisons between groups.