Impact of cannabis use and tobacco smoking on outcomes of open carpal tunnel release surgery: a nationwide study in the United States - Summary - MDSpire
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Impact of cannabis use and tobacco smoking on outcomes of open carpal tunnel release surgery: a nationwide study in the United States
To evaluate how cannabis use and tobacco smoking, independently or combined, affect outcomes of open carpal tunnel release surgery.
Approach:
Data Source: Utilized the PearlDiver Insurance Database, analyzing anonymized patient records from 2010 to 2022.
Patient Selection: Included adult patients aged 18 and older who underwent primary open CTR surgery, categorizing them into four groups based on substance use.
Outcomes: Primary outcomes included postoperative complications such as surgical site infection (SSI), wound disruption, joint stiffness, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
Statistical Analysis: Conducted using R software, employing logistic regression models to assess the association between substance use and postoperative complications.
Key Findings:
Postoperative complication rates differed significantly across substance use groups (p < 0.05).
SSIs were more frequent in substance users at both 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.05).
Concurrent users of cannabis and tobacco had the highest rates of complications (p < 0.05).
Interpretation:
Limitations:
Retrospective design may introduce bias.
Data limited to claims records, which may not capture all relevant clinical details.
Conclusion:
Cannabis and tobacco use may affect postoperative outcomes in carpal tunnel release surgery patients.
