Prolonged Preoperative Opioid Therapy in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Stenosis in a Workers” Compensation Setting

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLS) is characterized as a narrowing of the spinal canal, compressing the neural elements and leading to symptoms of radiculopathy or neurogenic claudication. Conservative care is commonly recommended for the initial treatment of DLS, but in refractory cases, surgical intervention is considered. During the initial management of patients with DLS, the use of opiates has become increasingly common. Findings from previous studies show that 33%-70% of patients undergoing spine surgery are on opioid therapy despite the evidence that preoperative opioid use has a negative impact on spine surgery outcomes.

from Sports Medicine via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2gby0eS
via IFTTT