Patients will be randomized into two groups. Intraoperatively, they will be given either 1) a 50 mL RECK (ropivacaine, epinephrine, clonidine, and ketorolac) cocktail containing 123 mg ropivacaine, 0.25 mg epinephrine, 0.04 mg clonidine, and 15 mg ketorolac into the paraspinal musculature and subdermal space surrounding the operative site once the fascia is closed (intervention group), or 2) a 50 mL injection of saline (control group). RECK is used for pain control and will be administered by fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeons. All patients will have a patient-controlled analgesia pump initiated shortly after surgery, with routine postoperative care and observation from nurses, pain management, and orthopedic surgeons and residents.
