Study: Sustained preoperative opioid use may be a predictor of continued use following spine surgery
According to a study published in the June 6 issue of
The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, the duration of preoperative opioid use could be a strong indicator of continued opioid usage after spinal surgery. Using TRICARE insurance claims data, researchers identified 27,031 patients undergoing spinal surgery between 2006 and 2014. Duration of preoperative opioid use was categorized into four groups: acute exposure, exposed without sustained use, intermediate sustained use, and chronic sustained use. Overall, 2,379 patients (8.8 percent) continued opioid use at six months following surgery. Duration of preoperative opioid use was the most significant indicator of continued use after surgery. Compared to the acute exposure group, cessation of opioid use after six months was 65 percent less likely in the intermediate sustained group, 74 percent less in the chronic sustained group, and 29 percent less likely in the exposed group.