Persistent use of prescription opioids following lumbar spine surgery: Observational study with prospectively collected data from two Norwegian nationwide registries

Study design Prospective pharmacoepidemiological study. Objective To investigate the use of prescription opioids two years following degenerative lumbar spine surgery. Summary background data There are limited providing details to evaluate patterns opioid use. The number patients is often and on some most common surgical procedures lacking. Methods Data from Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery Prescription Database were linked an individual level. primary outcome measure was persistent second year after Functional disability measured with Oswestry index (ODI). participants operated between 2007 2017. Results Among 32886 study participants, 2754 (8.4%) met criteria users in surgery, 64% preceding Persistent surgery (OR 31.10, 95% CI 26.9-36.0, P = .001), high doses benzodiazepines 1.62, 1.30-2.04, z-hypnotics 1.90, 1.58-2.22, .001) before associated increased risk A higher ODI score at one observed compared non-persistent (41.5 vs 18.8 points) there a significant difference change (-13.7 points). Patients less likely achieve minimal clinically important (37.7% 52.6%, .001). Conclusion or developing should be identified provided counseling support taper off treatment.Level Evidence: 2.