Patterns of Opioid Demand after Operative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures | Journal CME Article-Journal CME Article: Patterns of Opioid Demand after Operative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures Article

Journal CME Article: Patterns of Opioid Demand after Operative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures Article

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This study examines opioid use following the surgical repair of distal radius fractures (DRF) with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in patients, comparing those with and without a diagnosis of cannabis use. From 2010 to 2020, the PearlDiver database provided data for this analysis, categorizing patients into cannabis-user (case) and non-cannabis-user (control) groups. The primary goal was to assess the morphine milligram equivalents (MME) of opioids prescribed within 30 days post-surgery.<br /><br />Key findings included a significant reduction in the opioid volume (MME) dispensed to the cannabis-use group compared to the control group for their initial opioid prescription post-surgery (352.26 MME vs. 480.61 MME, respectively). Preoperative chronic opioid use emerged as the strongest predictor of prolonged opioid use post-surgery. Differences in prescription refills between the groups were not statistically significant, but mental health conditions, notably depression, increased the risk of multiple opioid prescription refills in the control group.<br /><br />The study suggests that cannabis use may be linked to a lower requirement for opioids post-surgery, potentially due to patients substituting cannabis for opioids or the enhancement of analgesic effects when both are used together. Opioid demand in patients with mental health issues like depression was higher among those without cannabis use, revealing the complexity of factors influencing opioid usage.<br /><br />The authors highlight that cannabis could play a role as an analgesic adjunct, supporting reduced opioid usage following surgery. They recommend further exploration into how cannabis might influence pain management, especially considering mental health and preoperative opioid exposure. The study underscores the importance of personalized pain management strategies to minimize opioid exposure and associated risks.

Keywords

opioid use

distal radius fractures

cannabis use

open reduction internal fixation

PearlDiver database

morphine milligram equivalents

chronic opioid use

mental health conditions

analgesic adjunct

personalized pain management