Cannabis use is associated with decreased opioid prescription fulfillment following single level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

• DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2023.100226
• Publication Date: 2023-05-03T20:01:17Z
• Authors: Jacob Silver; Colin Pavano; Nicholas Bellas; Cory Hewitt; Barrett Torre; Mathew Solomito; Regina Kostyun; Sean Esmende
• Keywords: Orthopedic surgery; Opioid use; Cervical spine; Clinical Studies; Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system; RC346-429; ACDF; Spine; Pain control; RD701-811; 3. Good health; Marijuana

Recently, there has been increasing legalization of marijuana within the United States, however data are mixed with respect to its efficacy in treating acute pain. Our goal was identify a difference opioid utilization patients known cannabis use before anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) compared those that report no use.This study retrospective case-control design using PearlDiver. Patients who underwent single level ACDF between January 2010 October 2020, were included. placed group if they had previous diagnosis use, dependence, or abuse. excluded under age 18 filled an prescription 3 months their procedure. A control then created propensity score match on age, gender, Charleston comorbidity index (CCI), use. The primary outcome number morphine milliequivalents (MME) dispensed per following surgery.A total 1,339 included each group. filling prescriptions lower than at days postoperatively (p<.001). average MME day as prescribed 60 post-op (48.5 vs. 59.4, respectively; p=.018).Patients dependence abuse fewer (at postoperatively) required doses (reduced daily MME, when