Risk Factors Associated with Prolonged Postoperative Opioids Use in Non-Cancer Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery: a Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative opioids use in non-cancer patients undergoing spinal surgery. Material and Methods: The medical records of patients, who underwent spinal surgery at Songklanagarind Hospital; from January 2014 to January 2019, were retrospectively reviewed, Data analysis was performed using multinomial logistic regression to identify independent factors associated with prolonged postoperative opioids use. Results: There were 65 out of 500 patients (13.0%) who had prolonged postoperative opioids usage. Opioids used before surgery as well as length of hospital stay after surgery were risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative opioids use (relative risk (RR), 47.65; 95% CI, 17.67-128.49 and RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14, respectively). Whereas, preoperative gabapentinoids use reduced the risk of prolonged postoperative opioids use (RR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13-0.83). Conclusion: Avoiding preoperative opioids used, by using gabapentinoids instead could reduce the risk associated with prolonged postoperative opioids use; in addition to related morbidity and mortality in non-cancer spinal pain patients.

Keywords

• non-cancer patients
• postoperative opioid
• prolonged opioids use
• risk factors
• spinal surgery