A study published in The Spine Journal examines the effects of chronic opioid therapy on patients who underwent cervical spinal fusion procedures. Study authors included 29,101 patients in the study.
Here are five findings.
1. Of the study participants, 22.8 percent had preoperative chronic opioid therapy. These patients were associated with a higher risk of 90-day wound complications, all-cause 90-day emergency department visits and pain-related emergency visits.
2. Chronic opioid therapy was also associated with an increased likelihood of epidural use and facet joint injections within one-year of surgery.
3. Patients who were using opioids prior to surgery experienced a greater possibility of undergoing a repeat cervical fusion within a year. They also had a higher chance of long-term opioid use after surgery.
4. Long-term opioid use post-surgery was linked to an increased possibility of new-onset complications. Chronic opioid therapy patients’ cost hospitals an extra $623 to $27,360.
5. Study authors concluded, “Preoperative opioid use among cervical fusion patients increase complication rates, post-operative opioid usage, healthcare resource utilization and costs. These risks may be reduced by restricting the duration of pre-operative opioid use or weaning off before surgery.”
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