Self-reported cannabis use is not associated with greater opioid use in elective hand surgery patients

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of preoperative marijuana use on postoperative opioid use during the first three postoperative days (POD 1-3) after surgery, and on expectations of pain control, resiliency, and quality-of-life scores.

All patients presenting to a single institution undergoing elective hand or upper extremity outpatient surgery were asked to complete pre- and postoperative questionnaires. Preoperative questionnaires collected information on demographics, marijuana use, tobacco use, procedure type, self-assessed health, pain control expectations, and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) scores. At the first postoperative visit, patients self-reported opioid consumption from POD 1-3. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine which patient characteristics were predictive of greater postoperative opioid consumption during POD 1-3.

Self-reported marijuana users were younger, less healthy, and more likely to use tobacco compared to non-users. Marijuana users and non-users were comparable in their use of pain medication (including non-opioids), rates of chronic pain diagnoses, and self-reported pain tolerance. EQ-5D scores were lower in marijuana users than non-users (0.64 vs. 0.72). Marijuana users and non-users were prescribed comparable quantities of opioids during the first 14 days after surgery (176 ± 148 vs 115 ± 87). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that lower preoperative EQ-5D scores, rather than marijuana use, were associated with increased opioid consumption during POD 1-3.

Preoperative marijuana use was not independently associated with increased opioid use during POD 1-3 after elective hand and upper extremity surgery; instead, an association with lower preoperative EQ-5D scores was identified.

II, prospective cohort study.