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Brenne J, Burney E, Mauer K, Orina J, Philipp T, Yoo J. Risks associated with chronic cannabis use on opioid use, length of stay, and revision rate for patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Spine J 2024; 24:851-857. [PMID: 38309626 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2024.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Opioids are commonly prescribed to treat spinal pain, especially those undergoing surgery. Cannabis has been suggested as an agent that can modulate opioid needs in these patients. PURPOSE To investigate the effect of cannabis use on perioperative opioid requirement and revision surgery rate in patients undergoing lumbar fusion. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 48,499 patients from PearlDiver national database who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion. OUTCOME MEASURES Opioid-use rates, MME, length of stay, and revision rates. METHODS Using PearlDiver, we identified patients for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), cannabis use disorder, revision lumbar fusion, demographics, and comorbidities. Cannabis users and non-users were propensity matched for age, sex, and tobacco use. Pre and postoperative cumulative morphine milli equivalence (MME) were calculated. Opioid-use rates, MME, length of stay (LOS), and revision rates were compared using univariate analysis. Revision rates were compared using Kaplan-Meyer log-rank analysis, and logistic and cox regression. RESULTS Of 48,499 patients undergoing PLIF, 3.4% were identified as chronic cannabis users. They were younger, and more likely to be male and use tobacco. They had a higher rate and amount of opioid use within 90-days preoperatively, and 90- and 365-days postoperatively, after controlling for age, sex, and tobacco use. Cannabis users had longer LOS (4.4 vs 4.0 days), and a higher rate of revision surgery (6.9% vs 3.2%). Log-rank analysis, as well as logistic and cox regression confirmed an increased revision rate. Concurrent tobacco and cannabis use also had an additive effect on revision rate to 8.1%, compared with those who used only cannabis (5.4%) or tobacco (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS Chronic cannabis use is associated with an increased preoperative and long-term postoperative opioid use, a longer length of stay, and an increased revision rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Brenne
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Emily Burney
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kimberly Mauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Management, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Josiah Orina
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Travis Philipp
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jung Yoo
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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Tao X, Matur AV, Khalid S, Shukla G, Vorster P, Childress K, Garner R, Gibson J, Cass D, Mejia Munne JC, McGrath K, Ivey N, Garcia-Vargas J, Wu A, Street S, Mehta J, Onyewadume L, Duah HO, Motley B, Cheng JS, Adogwa O. Cannabis Use is Associated With Higher Rates of Pseudarthrosis Following TLIF: A Multi-Institutional Matched-Cohort Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2024; 49:412-418. [PMID: 37417709 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To compare the rates of pseudarthrosis in patients undergoing 1 to 3 level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) procedures between cannabis users and noncannabis users. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Recreational use of cannabis is common, though it remains poorly studied and legally ambiguous in the United States. Patients with back pain may turn to adjunctive use of cannabis to manage their pain. However, the implications of cannabis use on the achievement of bony fusion are not well-characterized. METHODS Patients who underwent 1 to 3 level TLIF for degenerative disc disease or degenerative spondylolisthesis between 2010 and 2022 were identified using the PearlDiver Mariner all-claims insurance database. Cannabis users were identified with ICD 10 code F12.90. Patients undergoing surgery for nondegenerative pathologies such as tumors, trauma, or infection were excluded. 1:1 exact matching was performed using demographic factors, medical comorbidities, and surgical factors which were significantly associated with pseudarthrosis in a linear regression model. The primary outcome measure was development of pseudarthrosis within 24 months after 1 to 3 level TLIF. The secondary outcomes were the development of all-cause surgical complications as well as all-cause medical complications. RESULTS A 1:1 exact matching resulted in two equal groups of 1593 patients who did or did not use cannabis and underwent 1 to 3 level TLIF. Patients who used cannabis were 80% more likely to experience pseudarthrosis compared with patients who do not [relative risk (RR): 1.816, 95% CI: 1.291-2.556, P <0.001]. Similarly, cannabis use was associated with significantly higher rates of all-cause surgical complications (RR: 2.350, 95% CI: 1.399-3.947, P =0.001) and all-cause medical complications (RR: 1.934, 95% CI: 1.516-2.467, P <0.001). CONCLUSION After 1:1 exact matching to control for confounding variables, the findings of this study suggest that cannabis use is associated with higher rates of pseudarthrosis, as well as higher rates of all-cause surgical and all-cause medical complications. Further studies are needed to corroborate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Tao
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Abhijith V Matur
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Syed Khalid
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX
| | - Geet Shukla
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Phillip Vorster
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Kelly Childress
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Rebecca Garner
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Justin Gibson
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Daryn Cass
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Juan C Mejia Munne
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Kyle McGrath
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Natalie Ivey
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Julia Garcia-Vargas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Andrew Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Seth Street
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Jay Mehta
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Louisa Onyewadume
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Henry O Duah
- Institute of Nursing Research, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Benjamin Motley
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Joseph S Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Owoicho Adogwa
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
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Singh M, Bajaj A, Shlimak A, Kanekar S, Rampichini M, Gokaslan ZL, Scarfo KA, Leary OP, Guglielmo MA. Short-Term Pain Outcomes and Pain Medication Utilization Among Urine Toxicology-Identified Opioid and Marijuana Users After Elective Spine Surgery. Neurosurgery 2024; 94:622-629. [PMID: 37861310 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Postoperative pain outcomes may be influenced by preoperative substance use, which is often underreported due to associated stigma. This study examined the impact of urine toxicology-identified preoperative opioid and marijuana use on pain outcomes after elective spinal surgery. METHODS Patients undergoing elective spinal surgery between September 2020 and May 2022 were recruited for this prospective cohort study. Detailed chart review was completed to collect demographic, urine toxicology, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and pain medication data. Comparisons between self-reported and urine toxicology-identified substance use, preoperative/postoperative VAS ratings, and postoperative pain medication use were made using χ 2 tests, Student t -tests, and logistic regression, respectively. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and race. RESULTS Among 111 participants (mean age 58 years, 59% female, 95% with ≥1 comorbidity), urine toxicology overestimated drug use (47% vs 16%, P < .001) and underestimated alcohol use (16% vs 56%, P < .001) at preoperative baseline relative to patient reports. Two weeks postoperatively, participants with preoperative opioid metabolites reported no significant improvements in pain from baseline (6.67 preoperative vs 5.92 postoperative, P = .288) unlike nonusers (6.56 preoperative vs 4.61 postoperative, P < .001). They also had worse postoperative VAS (5.92 vs 4.61, P = .030) and heavier reliance on opioid medications (odds ratio = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.21-7.89, P = .019). Conversely, participants with preoperative marijuana reported similar improvements in pain from baseline (users: 6.88 preoperative vs 4.36 postoperative, P = .001; nonusers: 6.49 preoperative vs 5.07 postoperative, P = .001), similar postoperative pain (4.36 vs 5.07, P = .238), and similar postoperative reliance on opioid medications (odds ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.38-2.44, P = .928). Trends were maintained among the 83 patients who returned for the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION Although urine toxicology-identified preoperative opioid use was associated with poor postoperative pain relief and reliance on postoperative opioids for pain management after elective spinal surgery, preoperative marijuana use was not. Preoperative marijuana use, hence, should not delay or be a contraindication to elective spinal surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjot Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence , Rhode Island , USA
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Dietz N, Alkin V, Agarwal N, Sharma M, Oxford BG, Wang D, Ugiliweneza B, Mettille J, Boakye M, Drazin D. Cannabis Use Disorder Trends and Health Care Utilization After Cervical and Lumbar Spine Fusions. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2024; 49:E28-E45. [PMID: 37962203 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To identify differences in complication rates after cervical and lumbar fusion over the first postoperative year between those with and without cannabis use disorder (CUD) and to assess how CUD affects opioid prescription patterns. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Cannabis is legal for medical purposes in 36 states and for recreational use in 18 states. Cannabis has multisystem effects and may contribute to transient vasoconstrictive, prothrombotic, and inflammatory effects. METHODS The IBM MarketScan Database (2009-2019) was used to identify patients who underwent cervical or lumbar fusions, with or without CUD. Exact match hospitalization and postdischarge outcomes were analyzed at index, six, and 12 months. RESULTS Of 72,024 cervical fusion (2.0% with CUD) and 105,612 lumbar fusion patients (1.5% with CUD), individuals with CUD were more likely to be young males with higher Elixhauser index. The cervical CUD group had increased neurological complications (3% vs. 2%) and sepsis (1% vs. 0%) during the index hospitalization and neurological (7% vs. 5%) and wound complications (5% vs. 3%) at 12 months. The lumbar CUD group had increased wound (8% vs. 5%) and myocardial infarction (MI) (2% vs. 1%) complications at six months and at 12 months. For those with cervical myelopathy, increased risk of pulmonary complications was observed with CUD at index hospitalization and 12-month follow-up. For those with lumbar stenosis, cardiac complications and MI were associated with CUD at index hospitalization and 12 months. CUD was associated with opiate use disorder, decreasing postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS No differences in reoperation rates were observed for CUD groups undergoing cervical or lumbar fusion. CUD was associated with an increased risk of stroke for the cervical fusion cohort and cardiac (including MI) and pulmonary complications for lumbar fusion at index hospitalization and six and 12 months postoperatively. Opiate use disorder and decreased opiate dependence after surgery also correlated with CUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Dietz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | | | - Nitin Agarwal
- Washington University, Barnes Jewish Hospital Plaza, St. Louis, MO
| | - Mayur Sharma
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | | | - Dengzhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Beatrice Ugiliweneza
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
- Department of Health Management and Systems Science, School of Public Health and Information Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | | | - Maxwell Boakye
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Doniel Drazin
- Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, Everett, WA
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Trenchfield D, Lee Y, Brush P, McCurdy M, Lambrechts M, Narayanan R, Christianson A, Deez A, Wiafe B, Kaye ID, Canseco J, Hilibrand AS, Vaccaro AR, Kepler C, Schroeder G. Effect of Preoperative Marijuana on Patient Outcomes and Opioid Use after Lumbar Decompression. Global Spine J 2023:21925682231203650. [PMID: 37728558 DOI: 10.1177/21925682231203650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective Cohort Study. OBJECTIVES Our study aims to analyze the effect of preoperative marijuana use on outcomes and postoperative opioid use in patients who have undergone lumbar decompression without fusion. METHODS All patients >18 years of age who underwent lumbar decompression from 2017-2022 with documented preoperative marijuana use at our academic institution were retrospectively identified. A 3:1 propensity match incorporating demographics, procedure type, and levels decompressed was performed to compare preoperative marijuana users and non-users. 1-year preoperative and postoperative opioid consumption in milligrams of morphine equivalents and postoperative outcomes including readmissions, reoperations, and complications, were obtained. A multivariate regression model was performed to measure the effect of marijuana use on the likelihood of a spine reoperation. RESULTS Of the 340 included patients, 85 were preoperative marijuana users. There were no significant differences in medical complications, 90-day readmissions, or opioid consumption preoperatively or postoperatively (P > .05). We identified a trend towards patients who used marijuana having more reoperations for any cause (20.0% vs 11.37%, P = .067). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that preoperative marijuana use was a significant predictor of all-spine reoperations (OR = 2.06, P = .036). CONCLUSIONS In lumbar decompression patients, preoperative marijuana use does not impact opioid consumption, readmissions, or medical complications, but is a significant predictor of future postoperative reoperations. Additional research is necessary to further explore the role of marijuana use in spine surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delano Trenchfield
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yunsoo Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Parker Brush
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael McCurdy
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark Lambrechts
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rajkishen Narayanan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alex Christianson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Azra Deez
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bright Wiafe
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ian David Kaye
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jose Canseco
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alan S Hilibrand
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alexander R Vaccaro
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher Kepler
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gregory Schroeder
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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