Risks associated with chronic cannabis use on opioid use, length of stay, and revision rate for patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

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.