The Effect of Marijuana on Postoperative Spine Patients’ Emergency Department Visits, Readmission Rates, and Opioid Consumption

Abstract Objective: To compare postoperative opioid consumption with patients who tested negative for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) preoperatively with those who were THC-positive and patients who were positive for THC and any other drug and to compare 90-day rates of postoperative emergency department (ED) visits and 90-day readmission rates, using morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), for those three patient populations. Methods: Three patient groups were confirmed with preoperative urine drug screens. Chart reviews were conducted to determine whether there was an ED visit