Effect of Preoperative Marijuana on Patient Outcomes and Opioid Use after Lumbar Decompression.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-1-2025

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 (

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.

Volume

15

Issue

2

First Page

633

Last Page

638

ISSN

2192-5682

Disciplines

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

PubMedID

37728558

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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