Preoperative Narcotic Use Research Articles

Erector Spinae versus Surgically Placed Pain Catheters for Thoracic Outlet Decompression

Perioperative care after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) involves multimodal pain control. Pain catheters with bupivacaine infusion are a modality to minimize perioperative narcotic use. Our study aims to compare surgically placed pain catheters (SP) with erector spinae pain catheters (ESP) placed by the anesthesia pain service. Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained surgical TOS database identified patients undergoing transaxillary first rib resection (FRR) who had either SP or ESP placed for pain control. Patients were matched for age and gender. Data collected included demographics, operative details, and perioperative pain medication use. Narcotic pain medication doses were converted to milligram morphine equivalents (MME) for comparison between groups. Pain medications were collected for several time points: intraoperatively, for each post-operative day (POD), and for the entire hospital stay. Eighty-eight total patients were selected for comparison: 44 patients in the SP and ESP groups. Patients in each group did not differ with regards to age, BMI, gender, diagnosis, or comorbidities. There were no differences in preoperative narcotic use, preoperative pain score, or QuickDASH score. All patients underwent FRR. Concurrent cervical rib resection was performed in 6.8% SP and 6.8% ESP patients (p=1.00), pectoralis minor tenotomy in 34.1% SP and 29.5% ESP patients (p=0.65), and venogram in 31.8% SP and 31.8% ESP patients (p=1.00). Mean OR time was 90.0 minutes in SP and 105.3 minute in ESP cases (p=0.15). Mean length of stay was 1.9 days for SP and 1.8 days for ESP patients (p=0.56). There were no significant differences in intraoperative narcotics dosing in MME (SC: 22.1 vs ESP: 25.3, p=0.018). On POD 0, there were no differences in total narcotics dosing (MME) (SC: 112.0 vs ESP: 100.7, p=0.59), or in the use of acetaminophen, NSAIDS, or muscle relaxants. A similar trend in narcotics dosing was observed on POD 1 (SP: 58.6 vs ESP: 69.7, p=0.43), and POD 2 (SP: 23.5 vs ESP: 71.3, p=0.23). On POD 1, there was a higher percentage of SP patients taking NSAIDs (63.6% vs 40.9%, p=0.024), however, this difference was not observed on POD 2. There were no differences in acetaminophen or muscle relaxant use on POD 1 or 2. Total hospital stay MME was similar between groups (SC: 215.9 vs ESP: 250.9, p=0.23) CONCLUSION: Pain catheters with bupivacaine infusions are helpful adjuncts in postoperative pain control after FRR for TOS. This study compares SP to ESP, and demonstrates no difference in narcotics use between SP and ESP groups. SC should be used for pain control in facilities which do not have an anesthesia pain service available for ESP placement.

Correlation of Patient-Reported Preoperative Narcotic Use and Postoperative Requirements in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Preoperative narcotic use is associated with diminished outcomes and increased complications in patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The goal of this study was to compare self-reported and state database identified preoperative narcotic use and correlate it with perioperative narcotic requirements in patients undergoing primary arthroplasty. A total of 788 patients undergoing unilateral TJA from a single institution were examined using self-reported preoperative narcotic use questionnaires and were verified using the Massachusetts Prescriber Awareness Tool (MassPAT). Demographic data, perioperative morphine milligram equivalents, and postdischarge refills were recorded and analyzed. Of the total population, 16.4% of patients undergoing TJA had verified MassPAT narcotics prescriptions preoperatively. Of these patients, 55% accurately reported use to their surgeon. Patients with verified MassPAT narcotic prescriptions required more morphine milligram equivalents than patients without MassPAT prescriptions, regardless of their preoperative self-report at all time points in the study. Patients who accurately reported use required more narcotics than those who did not. Patients with MassPAT prescriptions required more postdischarge refills than patients without MassPAT prescriptions. These data suggest that state-run narcotics databases may be more useful than self-reports for identifying which patients may require more opioids both immediately postoperatively and after hospital discharge. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(1):34-39.].

Admission NarxCare Narcotic Scores Are Associated With Increased Odds of Readmission and Prolonged Length of Hospital Stay After Primary Elective Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The association of preoperative narcotic use with postoperative outcomes after primary elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has remained poorly characterized. The NarxCare platform analyzes patients' state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program records to assign numerical scores that approximate a patient's overall opioid usage. The present study investigated the utility of admission NarxCare narcotic scores in predicting the odds of adverse events (AEs) after primary elective TKA. Elective primary TKA patients performed at a single institution between October 2017 and May 2020 were evaluated. NarxCare narcotic scores at the time of admission, patient characteristics, 30-day AEs, readmissions, revision surgeries, and mortality were abstracted. Elective TKA patients were binned based on admission NarxCare narcotic scores. The odds of experiencing adverse outcomes were compared. In total, 1136 patients met the criteria for inclusion in the study (Narx Score 0: n = 293 [25.8%], 1 to 99: n = 253 [22.3%], 100 to 299: n = 368 [32.4%], 300 to 499: n = 161 [14.2%], and 500+: n = 61 [5.37%]). By logistic regression, patients with higher admission narcotic scores tended to have a dose-dependent increase in the odds of prolonged length of hospital stay, readmission within 30 days, and aggregated AEs. Admission narcotic scores may be used to predict readmission and to stratify TKA patients by risk of AEs.

The Accuracy of In-State Prescription Monitoring Program Database and Electronic Medical Records Compared to Urine Toxicology Screening in Total Joint Arthroplasty Preoperative Evaluation.

Preoperative narcotic use is associated with poor postoperative pain management and worse outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Therefore, identifying controlled substance use preoperatively is necessary. Electronic medical records (EMRs), prescription monitoring programs (PMP), or urine toxicology screening (UTS) are most commonly used. This study aims to compare the accuracy of EMR and PMP versus UTS to determine whether UTS should be implemented as standard of care in TJA preoperative assessment. Preoperative UTS was performed for primary or revision TJA from November 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. Patient demographics, medical history, prescription history, and UTS results were retrospectively recorded. Prescription monitoring program and EMR were queried for prescription history in the past 2 years. The accuracy of EMR and PMP compared with UTS was calculated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify patient predictors associated with UTS+. Thirty of 148 patients had UTS+. Positive urine toxicology screening was more common in patients younger than 58 years, White race, and undergoing revision surgery. Electronic medical record and PMP documentation had the highest sensitivity (73.3%), specificity (92.4%), positive predictive value (71.0%), and negative predictive value (93.2%). Patients with higher odds of UTS+ include current/former smokers, those with a history of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, hepatitis C diagnosis, and mental illness. For patients without any risk factors for having a UTS+, the use of EMR and PMP may be sufficient to evaluate for controlled substance use; however, UTS should be considered in patients who present with one of the risk factors for UTS+.

P68. Machine learning algorithms for predicting patient-controlled analgesia use after minimally invasive spine surgery

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Machine learning models have accurately predicted outcomes after various types of orthopedic surgery. These models have potential to enhance patient selection, risk stratification and preoperative planning. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of machine learning algorithms for prediction of patient-controlled analgesia use after minimally invasive spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE Consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive spine surgery between 2017 and 2021. OUTCOME MEASURES Whether or not patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was used in the first 24 hours after surgery. METHODS From a single-institution, multi-surgeon, prospectively maintained database, patients undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery were included. Cases were excluded for revision, cancer, nonelective surgery, infection and missing categorical data. Cases were randomly partitioned into training (75%) and testing (25%) data sets. K-nearest neighbor imputation was used for missing continuous variables. A random forest classifier was used to select the top 10 most important features. Eighteen different models were trained to predict whether PCA was used in the immediate post-operative period. When appropriate, class weights were adjusted to address class imbalance and models were calibrated using Platt's (sigmoid) method. Using the testing set and the top 6 classifiers, model performance was evaluated using overall accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS A total of 848 cases were included, where 636 (75%) were used for training and 212 (25%) for testing. Overall incidence of PCA use was 13.9%. The 10 most important predictors were BMI, age, number of operative table positions, fusion vs decompression, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, number of operative levels, gender, primary vs revision, pre-operative narcotic use and type of insurance. The 6 best performing models were naive bayes classifier (AUC= 0.89; Accuracy= 86.8%), ridge classifier (AUC= 0.885; Accuracy= 89.2%), logistic regression (AUC= 0.884; Accuracy= 89.2%), linear support vector classifier (AUC= 0.882; Accuracy= 89.2%), perceptron (AUC= 0.873; Accuracy= 88.2%), and random forest classifier (AUC= 0.859; Accuracy= 87.7%). CONCLUSIONS Machine learning algorithms were found to reliably predict postoperative PCA use after minimally invasive spine surgery. These results can help guide important clinical decisions, reduce costs, and improve expectation management. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs. Machine learning models have accurately predicted outcomes after various types of orthopedic surgery. These models have potential to enhance patient selection, risk stratification and preoperative planning. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of machine learning algorithms for prediction of patient-controlled analgesia use after minimally invasive spine surgery. Retrospective review. Consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive spine surgery between 2017 and 2021. Whether or not patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was used in the first 24 hours after surgery. From a single-institution, multi-surgeon, prospectively maintained database, patients undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery were included. Cases were excluded for revision, cancer, nonelective surgery, infection and missing categorical data. Cases were randomly partitioned into training (75%) and testing (25%) data sets. K-nearest neighbor imputation was used for missing continuous variables. A random forest classifier was used to select the top 10 most important features. Eighteen different models were trained to predict whether PCA was used in the immediate post-operative period. When appropriate, class weights were adjusted to address class imbalance and models were calibrated using Platt's (sigmoid) method. Using the testing set and the top 6 classifiers, model performance was evaluated using overall accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). A total of 848 cases were included, where 636 (75%) were used for training and 212 (25%) for testing. Overall incidence of PCA use was 13.9%. The 10 most important predictors were BMI, age, number of operative table positions, fusion vs decompression, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, number of operative levels, gender, primary vs revision, pre-operative narcotic use and type of insurance. The 6 best performing models were naive bayes classifier (AUC= 0.89; Accuracy= 86.8%), ridge classifier (AUC= 0.885; Accuracy= 89.2%), logistic regression (AUC= 0.884; Accuracy= 89.2%), linear support vector classifier (AUC= 0.882; Accuracy= 89.2%), perceptron (AUC= 0.873; Accuracy= 88.2%), and random forest classifier (AUC= 0.859; Accuracy= 87.7%). Machine learning algorithms were found to reliably predict postoperative PCA use after minimally invasive spine surgery. These results can help guide important clinical decisions, reduce costs, and improve expectation management.

Patients with preoperative opioid use and lower resilience scores are more likely to report inadequate pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundThe United States is in a prescriptive opioid crisis, and physicians have a responsibility to their patients and the healthcare system to mitigate irresponsible prescriptive practices. A patient’s preoperative opioid status and brief resilience score (BRS) may be used to individualize analgesic protocols and reduce opioid overprescription. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between preoperative resilience scores and patient-reported pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). This study also examines reported pain control in patients with or without preoperative narcotic use 30 days before their procedure. MethodsPatients undergoing elective primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) or primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) were asked to complete the BRS survey before their procedure and postoperative narcotic pain medication surveys at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after their operation. The patients were then stratified into 2 cohorts based on preoperative opioid usage status. Two-sample equal-variance t-tests were used to test for differences between resilience score group means and adequate pain control after TSA. The differences between preoperative opioid and no preoperative opioid usage cohorts, and perceived pain control and the number of oxycodone pills taken were analyzed for direction and statistical significance using t-tests for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for categorical variables. ResultsThe study cohort consisted of 218 patients, of whom 74 had preoperative opioid use (group O). Patients who reported inadequate pain control after TSA had consistently lower resilience scores at baseline. The BRS group means ± standard deviations after TSA for the adequate vs. inadequate pain control groups respectively were 3.84 vs. 3.48 (P = .010) at week 1, 3.83 vs. 3.53 (P = .055) at week 4, and 3.84 vs. 3.36 (P = .002) at week 12. Of the patients in group O (n = 74), a consistently smaller proportion of patients reported adequate pain control after TSA. Pain control rates among group O vs. nonusers/opioid-naïve patients (group N) respectively were 81.1% vs. 89.6% (P = .080) at week 1, 83.8% vs. 92.4% (P = .055) at week 4, and 82.4% vs. 93.0% (P = .016) at week 12. ConclusionA patient’s resilience score and preoperative opioid consumption are associated with postoperative pain control. Physicians may be able to use these 2 preoperative measures to better individualize postoperative narcotic prescriptive practices and reduce the number of unused opioids.

The Effect of Upper Extremity Tourniquet Time on Postoperative Pain and Opiate Consumption.

There is widespread use of pneumatic tourniquet for both upper and lower extremity orthopedic surgeries. Tourniquet use improves visualization, decreases blood loss, and as a result, decreases operative time. Exceeding a certain amount of tourniquet time can cause lasting neuromuscular damage. Orthopedic procedures cause significant pain, and the perioperative narcotic prescriptions after orthopedic surgery have been identified as one of the major contributors to the opioid epidemic. Our aim was to determine whether increasing tourniquet time had a negative impact on immediate postoperative opiate usage in the upper extremity, and to determine other factors associated with increased immediate postoperative opiate usage. A retrospective medical record review was performed on patients who underwent volar pleading for fracture fixation between January 2014 and December 2019 at a single institution. Postoperative pain, morphine equivalent dose (MED) usage, and demographic variables were collected. Multivariable analysis was performed, with P < .05 considered significant. Immediate postoperative MED consumed was not correlated with operative time, tourniquet time, preoperative substance usage, or sex. However, postoperative MED consumed was correlated with preoperative narcotic use, high body mass index (BMI), and fracture surgery complexity. Tourniquet usage under current guidelines does not appear to have an effect on postoperative pain and narcotic usage. Preoperative narcotic usage, BMI, and surgery complexity are significant factors for postoperative opiate consumption.

Increased length of stay following total joint arthroplasty based on insurance type.

Increased length of stay after total joint arthroplasty has been shown to be a risk factor for peri-operative complications. The purpose of this study was to determine if Medicaid insurance would be a risk factor for increased length of stay after total joint arthroplasty. We retrospectively reviewed a single surgeon's practice of 428 total hip and total knee arthroplasties who had insurance status of Medicaid, Medicare, Private or none. After exclusion criteria there were 400 patients. Patients with insurance status of Medicaid, Medicare or Private were then compared based on length of stay ≤ 2days and length of stay > 2days and then further analyzed using demographic, operative data, and total length of stay. Medicaid patients had an increased length of stay compared to patients with Medicare or Private insurance [1.98days versus 1.73days, p = .037, 95% confidence intervals (1.78-2.18) and (1.61-1.85), respectively]. The greatest predictor of a less than two-night stay post-operatively was private insurance status (p = 0.001). Medicaid patients had a higher incidence of prescribed narcotic use pre-operatively (p = 0.013). Although not significant, a trend was noted in the Medicaid population with higher incidence of smoking (p = 0.094) and illicit drug abuse (p = 0.099) pre-operatively in this sample subset. Patients with Medicaid insurance undergoing total joint arthroplasty have increased length of stay compared to patients with Medicare or Private insurance and have higher incidence of pre-operative narcotic use.

Topical vancomycin reduces surgical site infections in patients subjected to craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection: A comprehensive cancer center experience

BackgroundCraniotomies for resection of neoplastic lesions are at increased risk for surgical site infections (SSIs) as compared to non-neoplastic pathologies. SSIs can be detrimental due to delay in pivotal adjuvant therapies. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the rate of SSI in primary brain tumors, to analyze risk factors, and to evaluate effectiveness of topical vancomycin in reducing SSIs. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted at a National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients with primary brain tumors (n = 799) who were subjected to craniotomy from 2004 to 2014 were included. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, use of topical vancomycin and clinical outcomes were analyzed. ResultsTopical vancomycin was associated with a significantly lower rate of SSI (0.8%) compared to standard care (5%), ( p = 0.00071; OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.02 – 0.5). Narcotic use ( p = 0.043; OR = 2.24; 95% CI = 0.96 – 4.81), previous brain radiation ( p = 0.043; OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.02 – 4.29), length of hospitalization ( p = 0.01; OR= 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01 – 1.08), and 30 day re-operation ( p = 1.58 ×10 −10; OR = 15.23; 95% CI = 7.06 – 32.71) were associated with increased risk for SSI. ConclusionTopical vancomycin effectively reduced the rate of SSI in patients subjected to craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection. Furthermore, preoperative narcotic use, previous head/brain radiation, length of hospitalization, and 30-day reoperation were associated with increased risk of SSI.

Factors Predicting Increased Length of Stay in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have become increasingly popular in general surgery, yet no guidelines exist for an abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR)-specific program. We aimed to evaluate predictors of increased length of stay (LOS) in the AWR population to aid in creating an AWR-specific ERAS protocol. A prospective, single institution hernia center database was queried for all patients undergoing open AWR (1999-2019). Standard statistical methods and linear and logistic regression were used to evaluate for predictors of increased LOS. Groups were compared based on LOS below or above the median LOS of 6days (IQR = 4-8). Inclusion criteria were met by 2,505 patients. On average, the high LOS group was older, with higher rates of CAD, COPD, diabetes, obesity, and pre-operative narcotic use (all P < .05). Longer LOS patients had more complex hernias with larger defects, higher rates of mesh infection/fistula, and more often required a component separation (all P < .05). Multivariate analysis identified age (β0.04,SE0.02), BMI (β0.06,SE0.03), hernia defect size (β0.003,SE0.001), active mesh infection or mesh fistula (β1.8,SE0.72), operative time (β0.02,SE0.002), and ASA score >4 (β3.6,SE1.7) as independently associated factors for increased LOS (all P < .05). Logistic regression showed that an increased length of stay trended toward an increased risk of hernia recurrence (P = .06). Multiple patient and hernia characteristics are shown to significantly affect LOS, which, in turn, increases the odds of AWR failure. Weight loss, peri-operative geriatric optimization, prehabilitation of comorbidities, and operating room efficiency can enhance recovery and shorten LOS following AWR.

Opioid requirements in primary versus revision reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the inpatient pain medication use of patients who had a revision shoulder arthroplasty procedure performed and compare them to a cohort of patients who had a primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) performed to determine whether revision shoulder arthroplasty requires more pain medication.. A retrospective review was performed on patients undergoing revision arthroplasty (n = 75) and primary rTSA (n = 340). Inpatient medication records were reviewed to tabulate the visual analog pain (VAS) all narcotic medication use, and total morphine equivalent units (MEUs) were calculated for the duration of the inpatient stay. There was no significant difference between groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, preoperative narcotic pain medication use, tobacco use, postoperative VAS scores or hospital length of stay. There were no predictors of total postoperative MEUs identified. Overall, patients in the revision arthroplasty group received significantly less total MEUs than those in the primary rTSA group, 134.96 MEUs vs. 69.79 MEUs, respectively (p < .0005). The perceived notion that revision shoulder arthroplasty is more painful may cause providers to be more inclined to increase narcotic use, or use more invasive pain control techniques. Based on these data, we found that revision shoulder arthroplasty did not require an increased opioid requirement, longer length of stay or increase VAS, suggesting that these patients can often be managed similarly to primary rTSA.

The Natural Course of Recovery After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement According to the International Hip Outcome Tool–12 and Hip Outcome Score Sports Subscale

Background: A paucity of literature exists regarding trajectories of functional and sports-specific recovery after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Purpose: To determine if subgroups of patients exist based on the recovery trajectory of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after hip arthroscopy for FAIS in the short-term period and to determine clinical predictors for these subgroups of patients. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A prospectively maintained repository was queried for patients who had undergone primary hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS between January 2012 and May 2018. Patients who completed the preoperative, 1-year, and 2-year International Hip Outcome Tool–12 (iHOT-12) or the Hip Outcome Score Sports Subscale (HOS-SS) were included. The latent class growth analysis (LCGA) and growth mixture models (GMMs) were used to identify subgroups of patients based on trajectories of recovery for the iHOT-12 and the HOS-SS utilizing preoperative, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups. LCGA and GMM models using 1 to 6 classes for each PRO were performed, and the best-fit model for each PRO was selected. After final model selection, a multivariable multinomial logistic regression was performed, with the largest class being the reference group to determine clinical predictors of subgroup membership. Results: A total of 443 and 556 patients were included in the iHOT-12 and HOS-SS analyses, respectively. For the iHOT-12, we identified the following 3 subgroups: early progressors (70%), late regressors (22.3%), and late progressors (7.7%). Predictors of late regression were workers’ compensation status, psychiatric history, preoperative chronic pain, and lower preoperative iHOT-12 scores; and late progressors were less likely to participate in sports. For the HOS-SS, we identified the following 4 subgroups: early progressors (47.7%), late regressors (17.4%), late progressors (6.8%), and steady progressors (28.1%). Predictors of less favorable recovery trajectories (late regressors and late progessors) were older age, male sex, back pain, psychiatric history, preoperative chronic pain, greater alpha angle, and lower preoperative HOS-SS scores. Conclusion: Using the growth mixture modeling, 3 natural courses of health-related quality of life (early progression, late regression, and late progression) and 4 natural courses of recovery of athletic function (steady progression, late regression, late progression, and early progression) were identified. Preoperative psychiatric conditions, chronic pain, workers’ compensation status, and lower iHOT-12 scores were predictive of less than favorable trajectories of recovery according to the iHOT-12, and male sex, older age, back pain, preoperative narcotic use, and lower preoperative HOS-SS were predictors of less favorable recovery trajectories according to the HOS-SS.

P120. Risk factors for failure to achieve minimal clinically important difference following cervical disc replacement

<h3>BACKGROUND CONTEXT</h3> Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and minimal clinically importance difference (MCID) thresholds have emerged as effective, reliable parameters to assess improvement and surgical success. <h3>PURPOSE</h3> To investigate the risk factors associated with failure to achieve MCID following cervical disc replacement (CDR). <h3>STUDY DESIGN/SETTING</h3> Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. <h3>PATIENT SAMPLE</h3> A total of 107 patients who had undergone primary, one-or-two level CDR by three surgeons at a single academic institution. <h3>OUTCOME MEASURES</h3> Patient-reported outcome measures - Rates of MCID achievement in neck disability index (NDI), VAS (visual analogue score) neck, and VAS-arm were calculated with the following threshold values, based on previously published studies: NDI: -15.0, VAS-neck: -2.5, and VAS-arm: -2.5. <h3>METHODS</h3> Risk factors for failure to achieve MCID were identified using multivariate logistic regression models with alternating backward stepwise elimination and forward entry of removed variables (entry: 0.05, removal: 0.10). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the performance of each model. <h3>RESULTS</h3> A total of 107 patients met inclusion criteria (mean age: 42.99±9. Thirteen years, mean BMI: 26.02±4.01 kg/m2). There were 99 patients who presented for a follow-up visit within three months of their operation, of which 82 (89.1%) had achieved MCID in NDI, VAS-neck, or VAS-arm. Specific to the NDI, BMI≥25 kg/m2 (OR:153.75, p=0.002), depression (OR:50.32, p=0.016), myelopathy (OR:51.44, p=0.022), degenerative disc disease/spondylosis (OR:21.54, p=0.001), and two-level procedures (OR:6.59, p=0.027) were identified as risk factors for failure to achieve MCID within the first three months. Preoperative narcotic use (OR:0.11, p=0.027) was associated with a lower risk for failure to achieve MCID in NDI within the first three months. The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) assessing the logistic regression model's performance was 0.873 (p<0.001), suggesting strong predictive ability. Overall, 103 patients had valid MCID calculations, of which 93 (90.3%) achieved MCID in NDI, VAS-neck, or VAS-arm at any time point (2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year) following CDR. Depression (OR:18.21, p=0.022), myelopathy (OR:18.81, p=0.037), and two-level procedures were associated with failure to achieve MCID in NDI by the 1-year time point. The AUROC assessing model performance was 0.840 (p<0.001), demonstrating strong predictive ability. No significant risk factors were identified for failure to achieve MCID in VAS-neck and VAS-arm. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> The large majority of patients had achieved MCID in at least one of the three PROMs. Clinical depression, myelopathy and two-level procedures were associated with failure to achieve MCID in NDI by one year and also within the early postoperative period (first three months) following CDR. BMI≥ 25 kg/m2 and spondylosis were also significant factors associated with failure to achieve MCID in NDI within the early postoperative period. Although preoperative narcotic use was associated with achievement of MCID in NDI, these patients likely presented initially with more chronic and severe symptoms, potentiating greater improvements in PROMs. Future studies with larger cohorts may provide additional insight on the true impact of the identified risk factors on outcomes following CDR. <h3>FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS</h3> This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Factors Affecting Prolonged Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Use After Arthroscopic Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Repair.

Background:Postoperative pain and analgesic use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair remain important issues that affect rehabilitation and overall outcomes.Purpose:To evaluate the pre- and intraoperative factors that may cause prolonged duration of postoperative pain and analgesic use.Study Design:Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:We included 443 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain were obtained preoperatively and at 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Patients were divided into a group who had prolonged postoperative pain (duration ≥1 and <3 months; n = 86 patients) and a group with nonprolonged pain (duration <1 month; n = 357 patients). The following factors were compared between groups: age, sex, body mass index, repair technique, tear size, retraction amount, repair tension, tendon degeneration, preoperative pseudoparesis, symptom duration, application of microfracture to the rotator cuff footprint for marrow stimulation, smoking, degree of fatty degeneration, preoperative narcotic analgesic use, diabetes, acromioclavicular joint degeneration, and preoperative Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) and American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) scores.Results:Significant differences were seen between the prolonged and nonprolonged groups regarding the median duration of pain (54 vs 27 days, respectively; P < .001) and analgesic use (42 vs 28 days, respectively; P < .001). Significant differences were noted between the groups for symptom duration (P = .007), smoking status (P = .001), degree of fatty degeneration (P = .009), preoperative narcotic analgesic use (P < .001), preoperative DN4 and ASES scores, 30-day VAS score (P < .001), duration of opioid and nonopioid analgesic use (P < .001), tear size (P = .026), and retraction stage (P = .032). Tear size (P = .009), retraction amount (P = .005), preoperative narcotic analgesic use (P < .001), degree of fatty degeneration (P < .001), and preoperative DN4 score (P = .024) were factors independently associated with prolonged postoperative pain and analgesic use.Conclusion:Patients with larger size tears, retracted tendons, preoperative use of narcotic analgesics, higher tensioned tendon after repair, and Goutallier grade 3 or 4 fatty degeneration faced an increased risk of prolonged postoperative pain and analgesic use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. These factors might be mitigated by psychosocial support; gentle, controlled, and individualized postoperative rehabilitation approaches; detailed preoperative evaluation; and closer follow-up of patients who are treated operatively.

Enhanced recovery after cystectomy in patients with preoperative narcotic use.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of radical cystectomy with an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients with a history of chronic preoperative narcotic use compared to narcotic-naive patients. We identified 553 patients who underwent open radical cystectomy with ERAS. Preoperative narcotic use was identified in 34 patients who were then matched to 68 narcotic-naive patients. Postoperative outcomes, opioid use, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were analyzed and compared. All routes of opioid use were recorded and converted to a morphine equivalent dose (MED). Patients with preoperative narcotic use reported higher median VAS pain scores per day (postoperative day [POD1]: 5.2 vs. 3.9, p=0.003; POD2: 5.1 vs. 3.6, p<0.001; POD3: 4.6 vs. 3.8, p=0.004) and used significantly more opioids (median MED) per day (POD1: 13.2 vs. 10.0, p=0.02; POD2: 11.3 vs. 6.4, p=0.003; POD3: 10.2 vs. 5.0, p=0.005) following surgery. Preoperative narcotic users were noted to have a significantly higher incidence of 90-day re-admissions (41.2% vs. 20.6%, p=0.03). There was no difference in median hospital stay (4 vs. 4 days, p=0.6), 30-or 90-day complications (64.7% vs. 60.3%, p=0.8 and 82.4% vs. 75.0%, p=0.4, respectively) or gastrointestinal complications (29.4% vs. 26.5%, p=0.8), including postoperative ileus (11.8% vs. 20.6%, p=0.2). Patients with preoperative narcotic exposure report higher pain scores and require more opioid use following radical cystectomy with ERAS and are more likely to be re-admitted within 90 days. However, there was no observed difference in hospital stay or complications.

Metabolic disturbance affects postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.

Postoperative delirium is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We aimed to assess and compare clinical outcomes of CABG patients with delirium with a specific focus on the blood biochemical parameters. This investigation was carried out on the 90 eligible patients undergoing CABG. Delirium was measured using the Neecham confusion scale and assessed patients were divided into two groups of delirium (n = 43) and non-delirium (n = 47). Preoperative variables and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared. Delirium patients were older (p = 0.003) and had longer intubation time (p = 0.003). Non-delirium patients obtained a significantly higher Neecham confusion score (p = 0.001), and delirium patients experienced a hyperglycemic state at intraoperative (p = 0.004), intubation (p = 0.03), and extubation time (p = 0.02). Lower value of pH was seen at intubation (p = 0.03) and extubation periods (p = 0.001) in delirium group. A significant difference in base excess was observed between two groups at intubation (p = 0.04) and extubation periods (p = 0.004). Potassium level showed a significant decrease in delirium group at intubation (p = 0.01) and extubation periods (p = 0.001). Multivariate regression indicated that aging (OR = 1.08, p = 0.01), narcotic consumption (OR = 3.27, p = 0.05), DM (OR = 3.03, p=0.03), and prolonged intubation (OR = 1.18, p = 0.03) are predictors of delirium. Postoperative hyperglycemia (OR = 1.01, p = 0.002), low pH value (OR = 2.62, p = 0.02), and low potassium level (OR = 3.25, p = 0.03) are associated with development of delirium. Postoperative metabolic disturbance and electrolyte imbalances are closely related to the development of delirium after CABG and need to be considered more carefully. Aging, DM, and preoperative use of narcotics are strong predictors of delirium following CABG.

Outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty are similar in rotator cuff-intact and rotator cuff-deficient shoulders

BackgroundControversy exists regarding the biomechanical and clinical effects of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in shoulders with an intact versus a torn rotator cuff (RC). We compared clinical and radiographic outcomes at a minimum of 2 years after RTSA for cuff-intact or cuff-deficient conditions. MethodsRetrospective review identified 182 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up: 32 with an intact rotator cuff but advanced glenoid bone loss and 150 with a torn rotator cuff. Revision arthroplasties and those for osteonecrosis or trauma were excluded, and a matched cohort was created to compare 32 cuff-intact to 32 cuff-deficient shoulders. Assessments included preoperative and postoperative visual analog pain scores (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, narcotic use, strength, range of motion (ROM), complications, and revisions. Radiographs were analyzed for signs of loosening or mechanical failure. ResultsMean age for all patients was 71.7 (61-82) years, and the mean follow-up was 2.7 (2.0-5.5) years. Preoperatively, the groups were similar in almost every functional preoperative category, with no differences in gender, laterality, age, preoperative narcotic use, body mass index, or other co-morbidities. Postoperatively, no significant differences were found regarding VAS pain, ASES, ROM, strength, complication rate, revision rate, narcotic use, implant loosening, or mechanical failure; both groups showed significant improvements in all categories measured. ConclusionsRTSA provides reliably good functional and radiographic outcomes with low complication rates in indicated patients, regardless of the preoperative status of the rotator cuff. Level of evidenceLevel III; Retrospective Comparative Study

Risk Factors For Prolonged Opioid Use After Spine Surgery.

Retrospective review. Our purpose was to evaluate factors associated with increased risk of prolonged post-operative opioid pain medication usage following spine surgery, as well as identify the risk of various post-operative complications that may be associated with pre-operative opioid usage. The MarketScan commercial claims and encounters database includes approximately 39 million patients per year. Patients undergoing cervical and lumbar spine surgery between the years 2005-2014 were identified using CPT codes. Pre-operative comorbidities including DSM-V mental health disorders, chronic pain, chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), obesity, tobacco use, medications, and diabetes were queried and documented. Patients who utilized opioids from 1-3 months prior to surgery were identified. This timeframe was chosen to exclude patients who had been prescribed pre- and post-operative narcotic medications up to 1 month prior to surgery. We utilized odds ratios (OR), 95% Confidence Intervals (CI), and regression analysis to determine factors that are associated with prolonged post-operative opioid use at 3 time intervals. 553,509 patients who underwent spine surgery during the 10-year period were identified. 34.9% of patients utilized opioids 1-3 months pre-operatively. 25% patients were still utilizing opioids at 6 weeks, 17.3% at 3 months, 12.7% at 6 months, and 9.0% at 1 year after surgery. Pre-operative opioid exposure was associated with increased likelihood of post-operative use at 6-12 weeks (OR 5.45, 95% CI 5.37-5.53), 3-6 months (OR 6.48, 95% CI 6.37-6.59), 6-12 months (OR 6.97, 95% CI 6.84-7.11), and >12 months (OR 7.12, 95% CI 6.96-7.29). Mental health diagnosis, tobacco usage, diagnosis of chronic pain or CRPS, and non-narcotic neuromodulatory medications yielded increased likelihood of prolonged post-op opioid usage. Pre-operative narcotic use and several patient comorbidities diagnoses are associated with prolonged post-operative opioid usage following spine surgery. Chronic opioid use, diagnosis of chronic pain, or use of non-narcotic neuromodulatory medications have the highest risk of prolonged post-operative opioid consumption. Patients using opiates pre-operatively did have an increased 30 and 90-day readmission risk, in addition to a number of serious post-operative complications. This data provides spine surgeons a number of variables to consider when determining post-operative analgesia strategies, and provides health systems, providers, and payers with information on complications associated with pre-operative opioid utilization.

Impact of Michigan's new opioid prescribing laws on spine surgery patients: analysis of the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative.

In 2017, Michigan passed new legislation designed to reduce opioid abuse. This study evaluated the impact of these new restrictive laws on preoperative narcotic use, short-term outcomes, and readmission rates after spinal surgery. Patient data from 1 year before and 1 year after initiation of the new opioid laws (beginning July 1, 2018) were queried from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database. Before and after implementation of the major elements of the new laws, 12,325 and 11,988 patients, respectively, were treated. Patients before and after passage of the opioid laws had generally similar demographic and surgical characteristics. Notably, after passage of the opioid laws, the number of patients taking daily narcotics preoperatively decreased from 3783 (48.7%) to 2698 (39.7%; p < 0.0001). Three months postoperatively, there were no differences in minimum clinically important difference (56.0% vs 58.0%, p = 0.1068), numeric rating scale (NRS) score of back pain (3.5 vs 3.4, p = 0.1156), NRS score of leg pain (2.7 vs 2.7, p = 0.3595), satisfaction (84.4% vs 84.7%, p = 0.6852), or 90-day readmission rate (5.8% vs 6.2%, p = 0.3202) between groups. Although there was no difference in readmission rates, pain as a reason for readmission was marginally more common (0.86% vs 1.22%, p = 0.0323). There was a meaningful decrease in preoperative narcotic use, but notably there was no apparent negative impact on postoperative recovery, patient satisfaction, or short-term outcomes after spinal surgery despite more restrictive opioid prescribing. Although the readmission rate did not significantly increase, pain as a reason for readmission was marginally more frequently observed.

Evaluating the Impact of Psychiatric Disorders on Preoperative Pain Ratings, Narcotics Use, and the PROMIS-29 Quality Domains in Spine Surgery Candidates.

ObjectiveWe aimed to study the relationship between psychiatric Disorders (PD), preoperative pain, and opioid medication intake, as well as the quality of life patient-reported outcome measures using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29 (PROMIS-29) questionnaire, during the 30-day interval preceding surgery, in a consecutive series of patients who were scheduled to undergo surgical spine procedures. We hypothesized that PD could affect preoperative narcotic use and pain interference in a fashion that was not linearly associated with preoperative pain in spine surgery candidates.MethodsThe records of consecutive adult patients who underwent elective spinal surgery between October 2016 and August 2017 at a single institution were reviewed. We included patients who underwent preoperative pain assessment within 30 days prior to their planned surgery using the PROMIS-29 questionnaire. Patients with PD were compared to controls.ResultsA total of 117 patients matched our criteria. The average rating of pain intensity was notably higher in the PD group as compared to controls (p=0.004). The PD group had more patients complaining of high pain levels (>6) as compared to the control group (p=0.026). Controls with high pain levels had a greater incidence of preoperative narcotic use as compared to the low-pain cohort (p=0.029). However, there was no difference in the actual dose of daily narcotic medication taken between the PD and control groups (P=0.099) or between the low- and high pain score groups in the control (p=0.291) and PD (p=0.441) groups, respectively. Patients with PD and higher pain ratings seemed to have a higher incidence of anxiety (p=0.005) and depression (p<0.001). That was not the case for controls.ConclusionsPDs may impact the degree of preoperative pain interference and the intake of narcotic medication independently from pain intensity ratings.