This study aims to 1) determine reported cannabis use among patients waiting for thoracolumbar surgery and to 2) identify demographics and health differences between cannabis-users and non-cannabis users.

This observational cohort study is a retrospective national multicenter review data from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network registry. Patients were dichotomized as cannabis users and non-cannabis users. Variables of interest: age, sex, BMI, smoking status, education, work status, exercise, modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI), the Numerical Rating Scales (NRS) for leg and back pain, tingling/numbness scale, SF-12 Quality of Life Questionnaire - Mental Health Component (MCS), use of prescription cannabis, recreational cannabis, and narcotic pain medication. Continuous variables were compared using an independent t-test and categorical variables were compared using chi-square analyses.

Cannabis-use was reported by 28.4% of pre-operative patients (N=704), 47% of whom used prescription cannabis. Cannabis-use was reported most often by patients in Alberta (43.55%), British Colombia (38.09%) and New Brunswick (33.73%). Patients who reported using cannabis were significantly younger (mean=52.9 versus mean=61.21,). There was a higher percentage of concurrent narcotic-use (51.54 %) and smoking (21.5%) reported in cannabis-users in comparison to non-cannabis users (41.09%,p=0.001; 9.51%, p=0.001, respectively). There were significant differences in cannabis-use based on pathology (p=0.01). Patients who report using cannabis had significantly worse MCS scores (difference=3.93, p=0.001), and PHQ-8 scores (difference=2.51, p=0.001). There was a significant difference in work status (p=0.002) with cannabis-users reporting higher rates (20%) of being employed, but not working compared to non-cannabis users (11.13%). Non-cannabis users were more likely to be retired (45.92%) compared to cannabis-users (31.31%). There were no significant differences based on cannabis use for sex, education, exercise, NRS-back, NRS-Leg, tingling-leg, mODI, or health state.

Thoracolumbar spine surgery patients are utilizing cannabis prior to surgery both through recreational use and prescription. Patients who are using cannabis pre-operatively did not differ in regards to reported pain or disability from non-users, though they did in demographic and mental health variables.

This study aims to 1) determine reported cannabis use among patients waiting for thoracolumbar surgery and to 2) identify demographics and health differences between cannabis-users and non-cannabis users.

This observational cohort study is a retrospective national multicenter review data from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network registry. Patients were dichotomized as cannabis users and non-cannabis users. Variables of interest: age, sex, BMI, smoking status, education, work status, exercise, modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI), the Numerical Rating Scales (NRS) for leg and back pain, tingling/numbness scale, SF-12 Quality of Life Questionnaire - Mental Health Component (MCS), use of prescription cannabis, recreational cannabis, and narcotic pain medication. Continuous variables were compared using an independent t-test and categorical variables were compared using chi-square analyses.

Cannabis-use was reported by 28.4% of pre-operative patients (N=704), 47% of whom used prescription cannabis. Cannabis-use was reported most often by patients in Alberta (43.55%), British Colombia (38.09%) and New Brunswick (33.73%). Patients who reported using cannabis were significantly younger (mean=52.9 versus mean=61.21,). There was a higher percentage of concurrent narcotic-use (51.54 %) and smoking (21.5%) reported in cannabis-users in comparison to non-cannabis users (41.09%,p=0.001; 9.51%, p=0.001, respectively). There were significant differences in cannabis-use based on pathology (p=0.01). Patients who report using cannabis had significantly worse MCS scores (difference=3.93, p=0.001), and PHQ-8 scores (difference=2.51, p=0.001). There was a significant difference in work status (p=0.002) with cannabis-users reporting higher rates (20%) of being employed, but not working compared to non-cannabis users (11.13%). Non-cannabis users were more likely to be retired (45.92%) compared to cannabis-users (31.31%). There were no significant differences based on cannabis use for sex, education, exercise, NRS-back, NRS-Leg, tingling-leg, mODI, or health state.

Thoracolumbar spine surgery patients are utilizing cannabis prior to surgery both through recreational use and prescription. Patients who are using cannabis pre-operatively did not differ in regards to reported pain or disability from non-users, though they did in demographic and mental health variables.

Pain management in spine surgery can be challenging. Cannabis might be an interesting choice for analgesia while avoiding some side effects of opioids. Recent work has reported on the potential benefits of cannabinoids for multimodal pain control, but very few studies focus on spinal surgery patients. This study aims to examine demographic and health status differences between patients who report the use of (1) cannabis, (2) narcotics, (3) cannabis and narcotics or (4) no cannabis/narcotic use.

Retrospective cohort study of thoracolumbar patients enrolled in the CSORN registry after legalization of cannabis in Canada. Variables included: age, sex, modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI), Numerical Rating Scales (NRS) for leg and back pain, tingling/numbness leg sensation, SF-12 Quality of Life- Mental Health Component (MCS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and general health state. An ANCOVA with pathology as the covariate and post-hoc analysis was run.

The majority of the 704 patients enrolled (mean age: 59; female: 46.9%) were non-users (41.8%). More patients reported narcotic-use than cannabis-use (29.7% vs 12.9%) with 13.4% stating concurrent-use. MCS scores were significantly lower for patients with concurrent-use compared to no-use (mean of 39.95 vs 47.98, p=0.001) or cannabis-use (mean=45.66, p=0.043). The narcotic-use cohort had significantly worse MCS scores (mean=41.37, p=0.001) than no-use. Patients reporting no-use and cannabis-use (mean 41.39 vs 42.94) had significantly lower ODI scores than narcotic-use (mean=54.91, p=0.001) and concurrent-use (mean=50.80, p=0.001). Lower NRS-Leg pain was reported in cannabis-use (mean=5.72) compared to narcotic-use (mean=7.19) and concurrent-use (mean=7.03, p=0.001). No-use (mean=6.31) had significantly lower NRS-Leg pain than narcotic-use (p=0.011), and significantly lower NRS-back pain (mean=6.17) than narcotic-use (mean=7.16, p=0.001) and concurrent-use (mean=7.15, p=0.012). Cannabis-use reported significantly lower tingling/numbness leg scores (mean=4.85) than no-use (mean=6.14, p=0.022), narcotic-use (mean=6.67, p=0.001) and concurrent-use (mean=6.50, p=0.01). PHQ-9 scores were significantly lower for the no-use (mean=6.99) and cannabis-use (mean=8.10) than narcotic-use (mean=10.65) and concurrent-use (mean=11.93) cohorts. Narcotic-use reported a significantly lower rating of their overall health state (mean=50.03) than cannabis-use (mean=60.50, p=0.011) and no-use (mean=61.89, p=0.001).

Patients with pre-operative narcotic-use or concurrent use of narcotics and cannabis experienced higher levels of disability, pain and depressive symptoms and worse mental health functioning compared to patients with no cannabis/narcotic use and cannabis only use. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and largest study to examine the use of cannabis amongst Canadian patients with spinal pathology. This observational study lays the groundwork to better understand the potential benefits of adding cannabinoids to control pain in patients waiting for spine surgery. This will allow to refine recommendations about cannabis use for these patients.

This prospective randomized multicenter study compares two methods of bone defect treatment in tibial plateau fractures: a bioresorbable calcium phosphate paste (Alpha-BSM) that hardens at body temperature to give structural support versus Autogenous iliac bone graft (AIBG).

One hundred and eighteen patients were enrolled with a 2:1 randomization, Alpha-BSM to AIBG. There was a significant increased rate of non-graft related adverse affects and a higher rate of late articular subsidence (three to nine month period) in the AIBG group.

A bioresorbable calcium phosphate material is recommended in preference to the gold standard of AIBG for bone defects in tibial plateau fractures.

This prospective randomized multicenter study was undertaken to compare two methods of bone defect treatment: a bioresorbable calcium phosphate paste (Alpha-BSM –DePuy, Warsaw, IN) that hardens at body temperature to give structural support and is gradually resorbed by a cell-mediated bone regenerating mechanism versus Autogenous iliac bone graft (AIBG).

One hundred and eighteen adult acute closed tibial plateau fractures, Schatzker grade two to six were enrolled prospectively from thirteen study sites in North America from 1999 to 2002. Randomization occurred at surgery with a FDA recommendation of a 2–1 ratio, Alpha BSM (seventy-eight fractures) to AIBG (forty fractures). Only internal fixation with standard plate and screw constructs was permitted. Follow-up included standard radiographs and functional studies at one year, with a radiologist providing independent radiographic review.

The two groups exhibited no significant differences in randomization as to age, sex, race, fracture patterns or fracture healing. There was however, a significant increased rate of non-graft related adverse affects in the AIBG group. There was an unexpected significant finding of a higher rate of late articular subsidence in the three to nine month period in the AIBG group.

Recommendations for the use of AIBG for bone defects in tibial plateau fractures should be discouraged in favor of bioresorbable calcium phosphate material with the properties of Alpha BSM. We believe further randomized studies using AIBG as a control group for bone defect support of articular fractures are unjustified.

A bioresorbable calcium phosphate material is recommended in preference to the gold standard of AIBG for bone defects in tibial plateau fractures.

Funding: DePuy, Warsaw, IN.

This study was designed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of indomethacin as prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification (HO) after operatively treated acetabular fractures.

An IRB approved, prospective double blind placebo controlled clinical trial was performed at two level I trauma centres to evaluate the efficacy of indomethacin as prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification after the operative treatment of acetabular fractures. Between January 1, 1999 and May 31, 2003, two hundred and thirty-two patients with acetabular fractures were treated operatively through a posterior approach. Patients with the following conditions were excluded from study participation: age < 18, spinal cord injury, ankylosing spondylitis, burns, gastrointestinal bleed, Glasgow coma scale < 12, cerebrovascular accident, pregnancy and use of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. One hundred and fifty-seven eligible patients were identified and one hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled in the clinical trial. One hundred and seven patients have sufficient follow up to be included in data analysis. All patients underwent operative stabilization of their ace-tabular fractures by either a combined anterior and posterior approach or an isolated posterior Kocher-Lan-genbock approach. After fixation and prior to wound closure, any necrotic gluteus minimus muscle was debrided to viable muscle. Sixty-one patients were randomized to the placebo group and forty-six patients to the indomethacin treatment group. Indomethacin 75 mg SR and the placebo were administered to the patients by the investigational drug pharmacy in a blinded fashion. The medication was taken once daily for six weeks. Patient compliance was measured by obtaining indomethacin serum levels at the first postoperative visit (2 weeks). The extent of HO was evaluated on plain radiographs (AP and Judet) at three months postoperatively. The radiographs were scored for the presence of HO using the Brooker classification as modified by Moed. The data were analyzed two ways: 1) by excluding patients with protocol deviations and 2) by using an intent-to-treat model, where all enrolled subjects with 3 month Brooker scores were included in the analysis, regardless of whether they withdrew or were dropped from the study for clinical reasons. The sample size was estimated to produce a statistical power of 80% to detect a difference of 15% between the two treatment groups with alpha = .05.

There were no significant differences with regards to age, sex, body mass index (BMI), ISS (injury severity score) and complications between the two treatment groups. The overall incidence of HO (Brooker I-IV) was 52.8% and the overall incidence of significant HO (Brooker III/IV) was 19.6%. There were four patients with Brooker IV HO. There was no significant difference between the treatment groups in the incidence of HO according to Brooker class (p=0.23). Significant HO (Brooker grades III-IV) occurred in 8 cases (17%) in the indomethacin group and 13 cases (21%) in the placebo group. There was no significant difference in the presence of moderate to severe HO (Brooker III/IV) between the two treatment groups (Fisher’s exact test p=0.81). Eighty-two of one hundred and seven patients enrolled completed the protocol. Twenty-five patients did not complete the treatment protocol for the following reasons: stopped medication due to side effects, did not receive medication at discharge, lost medication, or medication stopped by another physician who did not understand the purpose of the study. Nine patients (8.4%) did not receive the full medication course, sixteen patients (15%) were dropped or withdrew from the study for adverse events or gastrointestinal symptoms. Twelve patients dropped or withdrew from the indomethacin group and three from the placebo group. Forty percent of patients in the indomethacin group had non-detectable serum levels at two weeks. Complications identified in the indomethacin treatment group included deep venous thrombosis (5), wound infection (2), nonunion (1), gastrointestinal bleed (1) and perforated ulcer (1). Complications identified in the placebo group included deep venous thrombosis (6) and wound infection (2).

In this prospective randomized study, a placebo provided as effective prophylaxis against the development of heterotopic ossification as indomethacin. More patients withdrew from the indomethacin group for gastrointestinal side effects or adverse events than in the placebo group. Patient compliance with indomethacin was poor with 40% of patients having no detectable indomethacin serum level. Serious gastrointestinal complications (gastrointestinal bleed and perforated ulcer) occurred in two patients treated with indomethacin.