Cannabinoids and Orthopaedic Surgery: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

The recent legalization of cannabinoids across the United States, both recreationally and medically, has presented an opportunity for cannabinoids to be used for a wide array of medical applications, most notably as an alternative to opiate pain medication. Despite this changing landscape and the growing cultural attention, much is still unknown about cannabinoids and their effect on the human body, specifically in the orthopaedic patient. There is basic science evidence that cannabinoids can positively affect bone metabolism; however, clinical studies are lacking to validate this. Moreover, clinical studies that have examined the effect of cannabinoids on orthopaedic outcomes are primarily retrospective database studies and have yielded conflicting results. Thus, despite growing usage of cannabinoids by patients and even some clinicians, substantiating evidence is lacking. The onus is on medical professionals and researchers alike to produce high-level evidence before any strong conclusions or clinical recommendations can be made.