Preface for focused issue: ambulatory spine surgery

Spine surgery has been increasingly transitioning from the inpatient to outpatient setting in ambulatory surgery centers (ASC). The drivers for this paradigm shift include potential for significant cost reductions in the current value-based healthcare climate; ability to perform minimally invasive procedures due to technological advances; and patient preference to spend their postoperative recovery period at home. The development of refined protocols such as multimodal analgesic regimens are enabling more ASC-based spinal procedures to take place, with increasing evidence demonstrating their safety and efficacy.