Analysis of Opioid Prescription Patterns and Postoperative Opioid Use in Opioid-Naïve Patients Undergoing Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery

Title: Analysis of Opioid Prescription Patterns and Postoperative Opioid Use in Opioid-Naïve Patients Undergoing Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery Background: Post-operative opioid prescribing patterns after elective spine surgery is a growing topic of concern, as over-prescribing can lead to potential medication dependence, while under-prescribing can lead to inadequate pain management. Objective: The primary objective was to develop prescribing guidelines based upon the amount of opioids used in the first 2 weeks after lumbar spine surgery by 80% of patients. Methods: Utilizing a prospective study design, opioid-naïve patients undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery at our institution were identified each week and preoperatively consented for study participation. Opioid naivete was defined as lack of opioid use at least 1 month prior to the scheduled surgical procedure. At 2 weeks postoperatively, enrolled patients completed a telephone survey questionnaire, which assessed remaining opioid prescription pill count, need for medication refill, and subjective patient satisfaction with opioid dosing. Subsequently, patient charts were retrospectively reviewed for patient demographic and medical co-morbidity data. Univariate two group comparisons were performed using t-tests for continuous variables, and using chi-square, or Fisher’s tests if cell counts are \u3c5 for categorical variables. We then looked at the distribution of MMEs in each cohort in order to determine the opioid needs of 80% of the patient population. Results: A total of 53 opioid-naïve spine surgery patients were included for analysis, of which 23 underwent fusion surgery and 30 underwent non-fusion surgery. Baseline demographics and co-morbidities did not significantly vary between groups. For the fusion group, analysis revealed that an MME of 90 would meet the opioid requirements for 80% of patients. In this group, 60% of fusion patients were under-prescribed opioids, while 27% of patients were over-prescribed. For the non-fusion group, an MME of 45 was determined to meet the opioid requirements of 80% of patients. In this group, 61% of non-fusion patients were overprescribed opioids, while 22% were under prescribed. Conclusions: Amongst opioid-naïve patients who underwent elective lumber spine surgery, patients in the lumbar fusion group were generally under-prescribed postoperative opioids, while patients in the non-fusion groups were over-prescribed. This discrepancy suggests that spine surgeons must account for the procedure type (i.e., fusion vs non-fusion) when prescribing opiates postoperatively in opioid-naïve patients, given patients undergoing lumbar fusion may require a larger MME than non-fusion patients. Keywords: opioid-naïve; lumbar spine surgery; fusion; postoperative opioid use; MM

Planning Large Single Frequency Networks for DVB-T2

[EN] The final coverage and associated performance of an SFN is a joint result of the properties of all transmitters in the SFN. Due to the large number of parameters involved in the process, finding the right configuration is quite complex. The purpose of the paper is to find optimal SFN network configurations for DVB-T2. Offering more options of system parameters than its predecessor DVB-T, DVB-T2 allows large SFN networks. However, self-interference in SFNs gives rise to restrictions on the maximum inter-transmitter distance and the network size. In order to make optimum use of the spectrum, the same frequency can be reused over different geographical areas - beyond the reuse distance to avoid co-channel interference. In this paper, a methodology based on theoretical network models is proposed. A number of network architectures and network reference models are considered here for different reception modes in order to study the effects of key planning factors on the maximum SFN size and minimum reuse distance. The results show that maximum bitrate, network size and reuse distance are closely related. In addition, it has been found that the guard interval is not the only limiting parameter and that its impact strongly depends on the rest of DVB-T2 mode parameters as well as on the network characteristics (Equivalent Radiated Power, effective height, inter-transmitter distance). Assuming that the C/N requirements are in the vicinity of 20 dB and bitrates over 30 Mbps, it has been found that the network can be as large as 360 x 360 km (delivering 39.2 Mbps) or even 720 x 720 km (delivering 37.5 Mbps). The reuse distance will also have a complex dependency on the DVB-T2 mode and especially the network parameters, ranging from below 100 to 300 km.This work has been financially supported by the Beihang University, IRT, the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (UFI 11/30 and program for the specialization of the postdoctoral researcher staff) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under the project HEDYT-GBB (TEC2012-33302)

Reducing Superfluous Opioid Prescribing Practices After Brain Surgery: It Is Time to Talk About Drugs

BACKGROUND: Opioids are prescribed routinely after cranial surgery despite a paucity of evidence regarding the optimal quantity needed. Overprescribing may adversely contribute to opioid abuse, chronic use, and diversion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a system-wide campaign to reduce opioid prescribing excess while maintaining adequate analgesia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing a craniotomy for tumor resection with home disposition before and after a 2-mo educational intervention was completed. The educational initiative was composed of directed didactic seminars targeting senior staff, residents, and advanced practice providers. Opioid prescribing patterns were then assessed for patients discharged before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were discharged home following a craniotomy for tumor resection during the study period: 98 who underwent surgery prior to the educational interventions compared to 105 patients treated post-intervention. Following a 2-mo educational period, the quantity of opioids prescribed decreased by 52% (median morphine milligram equivalent per day [interquartile range], 32.1 [16.1, 64.3] vs 15.4 [0, 32.9], P \u3c .001). Refill requests also decreased by 56% (17% vs 8%, P = .027) despite both groups having similar baseline characteristics. There was no increase in pain scores at outpatient follow-up (1.23 vs 0.85, P = .105). CONCLUSION: A dramatic reduction in opioids prescribed was achieved without affecting refill requests, patient satisfaction, or perceived analgesia. The use of targeted didactic education to safely improve opioid prescribing following intracranial surgery uniquely highlights the ability of simple, evidence-based interventions to impact clinical decision making, lessen potential patient harm, and address national public health concerns

Risk Factors of Not Reaching MCID after Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Case Control Study

Background The therapeutic effect of spine surgery has been traditionally evaluated by physical examination, radiographic findings, and general perception of patient’s health status. However, these assessments are often insufficient to represent surgical outcomes.Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are tools developed to measures quality outcomes following spinal surgery. Examples include the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Function 4-item Short Form (PROMIS-PF), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ODI (Oswestry Disability Index), SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey), and EQ-5D (EuroQuol-5D). The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) is an assessment tool to note the smallest clinical difference in PROs and provides the threshold where patients experience clinical benefit that justifies treatment plans or procedures despite the cost and side effects. MCID results reflect patient-perceived functional improvement, which can be a core metric in lumbar surgery for degenerative disease. Clinical and sociodemographic risk factors may serve to identify high-risk patients via MCID assessment. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with failure of reaching MCID based on PROMIS PF after elective lumbar spine surgery and the data registry from Michigan Spine Surgery Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC). The results of this study can provide opportunities to optimize medical conditions of patients in prior to any elective lumbar surgery. METHODS MSSIC is a state-wide quality-improvement initiative database including 29 hospitals and 200 orthopedic- and neurosurgeons from various settings. Member hospitals are required to perform an annual minimum of 200 spine surgeries. MSSIC reviews elective spine surgeries for degenerative disease but excludes non-degenerative and/or complex pathology (i.e., spinal cord injury, traumatic fractures, pre-existing infection, grade 3 or 4 spondylolisthesis, scoliosis greater than 25◦, congenital anomalies, or ≥ 4-level fusion). Utilizing MSSIC, 10,922 patients who had undergone elective lumbar spine surgery were selected with 90 day follow up, and 7,200 patients with 1-year follow up. Patients with missing data were excluded from the study. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, medical history, surgical procedure, details of hospital stay, postsurgical adverse events within 90 days of surgery, and patient-reported outcome after surgery were reviewed. A patient was considered to have achieved MCID if there was an increase in ≥4.5 points. RESULTS Of 10,922 patients with 90-day follow-up, 4,453 patients (40.8%) did not reach MCID. Of 7,200 patients with 1-year follow up, 2,361 patients (23.8%) did not achieve MCID. There were significant baseline differences in demographic profiles and operative characteristics for those who had follow-up at 90 days and 1 year after their surgery. At 90 days after surgery, significant factors of not reaching MCID and their relative risk included symptom duration more than 1 year (1.34), previous spine surgery (1.25), African American descent (1.25), chronic opiate use (1.23), less than high school education (1.20), morbid obesity (1.15), ASA class \u3e2 (1.15), current smoking (1.14), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1.13), depression (1.09), history of DVT (1.08), scoliosis (1.06), anxiety (1.06), baseline PROMIS (1.06), and surgery invasiveness (1.02). At 1 year after surgery, significant factors of not reaching MCID and their relative risk included symptom duration more than 1 year (1.41), less than high school education (1.34), previous spine surgery (1.30), morbid obesity (1.30), chronic opiate use (1.25), age (1.21), current smoking (1.21), African American descent (1.20), ASA class \u3e2 (1.18), history of DVT (1.12), depression (1.10), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1.09), and baseline PROMIS (1.06). Independent ambulatory status (0.83 and 0.88 for 90-day and 1-year follow-up, respectively) and private insurance (0.83 and 0.85 for 90-day and 1-year follow-up, respectively) were associated with higher likelihood of reaching MCID. CONCLUSION This case control study identifies relevant risk factors of not reaching MCID after elective lumbar spine surgery. The results may assist clinicians in identifying high risk patients and optimizing patients’ medical conditions prior to spinal surgery

Suprasellar pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: A case report

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare form of astrocytic neoplasm most commonly found in children and young adults. This neoplasm, which is classified as a Grade II tumor by the World Health Organization classification of tumors of the central nervous system, carries a relatively favorable outcome. It is usually found supratentorially in cortical regions of the cerebral hemispheres, and as such, presenting symptoms are similar to other supratentorial cortical neoplasms; with seizures being a common initial symptom. Due to the rarity of this type of neoplasm, PXA arising elsewhere in the brain is often not included in the initial differential diagnosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: This report presents an extremely rare patient with PXA arising in the suprasellar region who presented with progressive peripheral vision loss. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated a heterogeneous suprasellar mass with cystic and enhancing components initially; the most likely differential diagnosis was craniopharyngioma. The patient underwent endoscopic endonasal resection of the tumor. Microscopically, the tumor was consistent with a glial neoplasm with variable morphology. Based on these findings along with further immunohistochemical workup, the patient was diagnosed with a PXA arising in the suprasellar region. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient remained free of recurrence. Although rare PXA originating in other uncommon locations, such as the spinal cord, cerebellum, the ventricular system, and the pineal region have been previously described. CONCLUSION: Although rare, PXA should be included in the differential diagnosis for solid-cystic tumors arising in the suprasellar region in young adults

The role of postoperative antibiotic duration on surgical site infection after lumbar surgery

OBJECTIVE: Despite a general consensus regarding the administration of preoperative antibiotics, poorly defined comparison groups and underpowered studies prevent clear guidelines for postoperative antibiotics. Utilizing a data set tailored specifically to spine surgery outcomes, in this clinical study the authors aimed to determine whether there is a role for postoperative antibiotics in the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI). METHODS: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative registry was queried for all lumbar operations performed for degenerative spinal pathologies over a 5-year period from 2014 to 2019. Preoperative prophylactic antibiotics were administered for all surgical procedures. The study population was divided into three cohorts: no postoperative antibiotics, postoperative antibiotics ≤ 24 hours, and postoperative antibiotics \u3e 24 hours. This categorization was intended to determine 1) whether postoperative antibiotics are helpful and 2) the appropriate duration of postoperative antibiotics. First, multivariable analysis with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) was used to determine the association between antibiotic duration and all-type SSI with adjusted odds ratios; second, a three-tiered outcome-no SSI, superficial SSI, and deep SSI-was calculated with multivariable multinomial logistical GEE analysis. RESULTS: Among 37,161 patients, the postoperative antibiotics \u3e 24 hours cohort had more men with older average age, greater body mass index, and greater comorbidity burden. The postoperative antibiotics \u3e 24 hours cohort had a 3% rate of SSI, which was significantly higher than the 2% rate of SSI of the other two cohorts (p = 0.004). On multivariable GEE analysis, neither postoperative antibiotics \u3e 24 hours nor postoperative antibiotics ≤ 24 hours, as compared with no postoperative antibiotics, was associated with a lower rate of all-type postoperative SSIs. On multivariable multinomial logistical GEE analysis, neither postoperative antibiotics ≤ 24 hours nor postoperative antibiotics \u3e 24 hours was associated with rate of superficial SSI, as compared with no antibiotic use at all. The odds of deep SSI decreased by 45% with postoperative antibiotics ≤ 24 hours (p = 0.002) and by 40% with postoperative antibiotics \u3e 24 hours (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of all-type SSI was highest in the antibiotics \u3e 24 hours cohort, which also had the highest proportions of risk factors, duration of antibiotics failed to predict all-type SSI. On multinomial subanalysis, administration of postoperative antibiotics for both ≤ 24 hours and \u3e 24 hours was associated with decreased risk of only deep SSI but not superficial SSI. Spine surgeons can safely consider antibiotics for 24 hours, which is equally as effective as long-term administration for prophylaxis against deep SSI

Use of Patient Health Questionnaire-2 Scoring to Predict Patient Satisfaction and Return to Work up to 1 Year After Lumbar Fusion: A 2-Year Analysis from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative

OBJECTIVE: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, quality-improvement collaborative. Using MSSIC, the authors sought to identify the relationship between a positive Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) screening, which is predictive of depression, and patient satisfaction, return to work, and achieving Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. METHODS: Data from a total of 8585 lumbar fusion patients were analyzed. Patient satisfaction was measured by the North American Spine Society patient satisfaction index. A positive PHQ-2 score is one that is ≥ 3, which has an 82.9% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity in detecting major depressive disorder. Generalized estimating equation models were constructed; variables tested include age, sex, race, past medical history, severity of surgery, and preoperative opioid usage. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis was performed. Patients with a positive PHQ-2 score (i.e., ≥ 3) were less likely to be satisfied after lumbar fusion at 90 days (relative risk [RR] 0.93, p \u3c 0.001), 1 year (RR 0.92, p = 0.001), and 2 years (RR 0.92, p = 0.028). A positive PHQ-2 score was also associated with decreased likelihood of returning to work at 90 days (RR 0.76, p \u3c 0.001), 1 year (RR 0.85, p = 0.001), and 2 years (RR 0.82, p = 0.031). A positive PHQ-2 score was predictive of failure to achieve an ODI MCID at 90 days (RR 1.07, p = 0.005) but not at 1 year or 2 years after lumbar fusion. CONCLUSIONS: A multivariate analysis based on information from a large, multicenter, prospective database on lumbar fusion patients was performed. The authors found that a positive score (≥ 3) on the PHQ-2, which is a simple and accurate screening tool for depression, predicts an inability to return to work and worse satisfaction up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. Depression is a treatable condition, and so in the same way that patients are medically optimized before surgery to decrease postoperative morbidity, perhaps patients should have preoperative psychiatric optimization to improve postoperative functional outcomes

Use of Patient Health Questionnaire-2 scoring to predict patient satisfaction and return to work up to 1 year after lumbar fusion: a 2-year analysis from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative

OBJECTIVE: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, quality-improvement collaborative. Using MSSIC, the authors sought to identify the relationship between a positive Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) screening, which is predictive of depression, and patient satisfaction, return to work, and achieving Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. METHODS: Data from a total of 8585 lumbar fusion patients were analyzed. Patient satisfaction was measured by the North American Spine Society patient satisfaction index. A positive PHQ-2 score is one that is ≥ 3, which has an 82.9% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity in detecting major depressive disorder. Generalized estimating equation models were constructed; variables tested include age, sex, race, past medical history, severity of surgery, and preoperative opioid usage. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis was performed. Patients with a positive PHQ-2 score (i.e., ≥ 3) were less likely to be satisfied after lumbar fusion at 90 days (relative risk [RR] 0.93, p \u3c 0.001), 1 year (RR 0.92, p = 0.001), and 2 years (RR 0.92, p = 0.028). A positive PHQ-2 score was also associated with decreased likelihood of returning to work at 90 days (RR 0.76, p \u3c 0.001), 1 year (RR 0.85, p = 0.001), and 2 years (RR 0.82, p = 0.031). A positive PHQ-2 score was predictive of failure to achieve an ODI MCID at 90 days (RR 1.07, p = 0.005) but not at 1 year or 2 years after lumbar fusion. CONCLUSIONS: A multivariate analysis based on information from a large, multicenter, prospective database on lumbar fusion patients was performed. The authors found that a positive score (≥ 3) on the PHQ-2, which is a simple and accurate screening tool for depression, predicts an inability to return to work and worse satisfaction up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. Depression is a treatable condition, and so in the same way that patients are medically optimized before surgery to decrease postoperative morbidity, perhaps patients should have preoperative psychiatric optimization to improve postoperative functional outcomes

Use of Patient Health Questionnaire-2 scoring to predict patient satisfaction and return to work up to 1 year after lumbar fusion: a 2-year analysis from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative

OBJECTIVE: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, quality-improvement collaborative. Using MSSIC, the authors sought to identify the relationship between a positive Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) screening, which is predictive of depression, and patient satisfaction, return to work, and achieving Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. METHODS: Data from a total of 8585 lumbar fusion patients were analyzed. Patient satisfaction was measured by the North American Spine Society patient satisfaction index. A positive PHQ-2 score is one that is ≥ 3, which has an 82.9% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity in detecting major depressive disorder. Generalized estimating equation models were constructed; variables tested include age, sex, race, past medical history, severity of surgery, and preoperative opioid usage. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis was performed. Patients with a positive PHQ-2 score (i.e., ≥ 3) were less likely to be satisfied after lumbar fusion at 90 days (relative risk [RR] 0.93, p \u3c 0.001), 1 year (RR 0.92, p = 0.001), and 2 years (RR 0.92, p = 0.028). A positive PHQ-2 score was also associated with decreased likelihood of returning to work at 90 days (RR 0.76, p \u3c 0.001), 1 year (RR 0.85, p = 0.001), and 2 years (RR 0.82, p = 0.031). A positive PHQ-2 score was predictive of failure to achieve an ODI MCID at 90 days (RR 1.07, p = 0.005) but not at 1 year or 2 years after lumbar fusion. CONCLUSIONS: A multivariate analysis based on information from a large, multicenter, prospective database on lumbar fusion patients was performed. The authors found that a positive score (≥ 3) on the PHQ-2, which is a simple and accurate screening tool for depression, predicts an inability to return to work and worse satisfaction up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. Depression is a treatable condition, and so in the same way that patients are medically optimized before surgery to decrease postoperative morbidity, perhaps patients should have preoperative psychiatric optimization to improve postoperative functional outcomes