Incidence and risk for prolonged opioid use after spine fusion in adolescents using TriNETx global network

Abstract

Record ID: 290

Award(s): Excellence in Research Mentoring

Student Major(s): Economics; Medical Sciences

Advisor: Vidya Chidambaran

Abstract: Persistent opioid use after surgery is a serious concern among adolescents and may increase risk for prescription opioid misuse. Spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis is a highly painful surgery that adolescents undergo, with high risk for opioid use and prolonged pain. Unlike claims data used in prior studies, we used TriNetX, which provides real-time big datasets of electronic medical records (Diagnoses, procedures, medications, etc.) from many healthcare organizations. The overall purpose of this study was to evaluate incidence and factors (sex, race and mental health) influencing prolonged opioid use (3-6 months) after spine fusion (POUS).   Methods: Index cases were those that underwent spinal fusion procedures (based on CPT codes) associated with idiopathic scoliosis (ICD-10) from 2016-2022. TriNETx was queried to include subjects aged 13-21 years of age with index events as above within 1 day of an anesthesia event, confirmed by use of opioids within 15 days after the index event. We excluded those with presence of an opioid (CN101 OPIOID ANALGESICS) in the 15-180 days prior to index event, or any post-index surgical event 1-180 days after the index event. Control group was age matched based on index event median date and who did not who did not undergo any surgical events. POUS was defined as presence of Opioid Analgesic Medication (CN101 OPIOID ANALGESICS) within 90-180 days after the index event.  The outcome of the work will further our understanding of demographic connections to opioid use after surgery.