Factors predicting postop opioid used in spine surgery patients

Editor's Note

Patients having surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) are less likely to be dependent on opioids after surgery than before, this study finds.

Of 10,708 DS patients who had surgery between 2000 and 2012, 14.85% were opioid dependent within 12 months before surgery, and 9.90% were opioid dependent 3 to 15 months after surgery.

Prior opioid dependence and younger age were independent predictors of postoperative opioid dependence.

The researchers concluded that overall, opioid dependence was reduced by nearly 5% after surgery for DS.