Opioid Use Increases the Rate of Pseudarthrosis and Revision Surgery in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-1-2024

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) quantify the risk opioids impart on pseudarthrosis development, (2) analyze the effect of pseudarthrosis on clinical outcomes, and (3) identify if the amount of opioids prescribed are predictive of pseudarthrosis revision.

METHODS: Patients who underwent ACDF at a single institution between 2017-2019 were retrospectively identified. Postoperative dynamic cervical spine radiographs were reviewed to assess fusion status. Logistic regression models measured the effect of morphine milligram equivalents (MME) prescribed on the likelihood of pseudarthrosis development. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to predict the probability of surgical revision based on MME prescribed.

RESULTS: Of 298 included patients, an average of 2.01 ± 0.82 levels were included in the construct and 121 (40.9%) patients were diagnosed with a pseudarthrosis. However, only 14 (4.7%) required a pseudarthrosis revision. Patients requiring pseudarthrosis revision had worse one-year postoperative Δ PCS-12 (-1.70 vs. 7.58,

CONCLUSION: Increased prescription of opioid medications following ACDF procedures may increase the risk of pseudarthrosis development and revision surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III.

Volume

14

Issue

2

First Page

620

Last Page

630

ISSN

2192-5682

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

35959950

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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