• Mark J Lambrechts, Nicholas D D'Antonio, Gregory R Toci, Brian A Karamian, Dominic Farronato, Joshua Pezzulo, Garrett Breyer, Jose A Canseco, Barrett Woods, Alan S Hilibrand, Christopher K Kepler, Alexander R Vaccaro, and Gregory R Schroeder.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
• Spine. 2022 Nov 15; 47 (22): 155815661558-1566.

Study DesignA retrospective cohort study.ObjectiveTo determine if (1) preoperative marijuana use increased complications, readmission, or reoperation rates following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), (2) identify if preoperative marijuana use resulted in worse patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and (3) investigate if preoperative marijuana use affects the quantity of opioid prescriptions in the perioperative period.Summary Of Background DataA growing number of states have legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana, thus increasing the number of patients who report preoperative marijuana use. The effects of marijuana on clinical outcomes and PROMs in the postoperative period are unknown.MethodsAll patients 18 years of age and older who underwent primary one- to four-level ACDF with preoperative marijuana use at our academic institution were retrospectively identified. A 3:1 propensity match was conducted to compare patients who used marijuana versus those who did not. Patient demographics, surgical characteristics, clinical outcomes, and PROMs were compared between groups. Multivariate regression models measured the effect of marijuana use on the likelihood of requiring a reoperation and whether marijuana use predicted inferior PROM improvements at the one-year postoperative period.ResultsOf the 240 patients included, 60 (25.0%) used marijuana preoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified marijuana use (odds ratio=5.62, P <0.001) as a predictor of a cervical spine reoperation after ACDF. Patients who used marijuana preoperatively had worse one-year postoperative Physical Component Scores of the Short-Form 12 (PCS-12) ( P =0.001), Neck Disability Index ( P =0.003), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Arm ( P =0.044) and VAS Neck ( P =0.012). Multivariate linear regression found preoperative marijuana use did not independently predict improvement in PCS-12 (β=-4.62, P =0.096), Neck Disability Index (β=9.51, P =0.062), Mental Component Scores of the Short-Form 12 (MCS-12) (β=-1.16, P =0.694), VAS Arm (β=0.06, P =0.944), or VAS Neck (β=-0.44, P =0.617).ConclusionPreoperative marijuana use increased the risk of a cervical spine reoperation after ACDF, but it did not significantly change the amount of postoperative opioids used or the magnitude of improvement in PROMs.Level Of EvidenceLevwl III.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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