Preop opioid score not linked to adverse outcomes after spine surgery

Editor's Note

NarxCare, an opioid-use score based on state prescription databases, is not associated with adverse outcomes or patient satisfaction after elective spine surgery, this study finds.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis of 346 elective spine surgery patients did not find statistically significant odds of experiencing adverse events, readmissions, reoperations, and 30-day mortality between different levels of preoperative opioid use (admission NarxCare scores: 0, 1-99, 100-299, 300-499, and 500 +).

There also were no statistical differences in Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey response rates, total HCAHPS scores, or HCAHP scores between the different opioid use groups.

These findings are particularly relevant considering that federal reimbursement may be affected by HCAHPS scores, the authors note.