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Objective: Advanced‐stage laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is treated with primary surgery or chemoradiation. We aim to determine if there are differences in postoperative functional oral intake in primary (PL) versus salvage laryngectomees (SL). Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Patients who underwent laryngectomy between 2011 and 2021. Methods: We examined demographic, diagnostic, treatment, and swallow function data pre‐ and postoperatively. A follow‐up survey was distributed to assess current swallow status. Results: One hundred twenty‐five patients were included. Preoperatively, 68.8% of patients reported dysphagia. Median functional oral intake score (FOIS) was 4.0 [interquartile range, IQR: 1.0‐6.75]. The SL group had lower preop FOIS [2.0; IQR: 1.0‐4.75] that did not reach significance compared to the PL group [4.5; IQR: 1.0‐7.0] (P =.052). 73.4% of patients had a feeding tube. The PL group was more likely to have the tube removed [odds ratio, OR: 2.4; confidence interval, CI: 1.0‐5.7]. The SL group was more likely to require feeding tube placement more than 6 months postop [OR: 6.9; CI: 1.65‐32.6]. SL FOIS scores improved by 3 months postop to 5 (SL ΔFOIS = 3, P =.0150). PL scores improved to 7 [PL ΔFOIS = 2, P =.0005] at 12 to 15 months. Sixty‐nine patients were contacted for a follow‐up survey and 16 completed this survey. 30.4% patients reported dietary restrictions (mean 4.4 years postop). Conclusion: Patients undergoing SL appear to obtain similar swallow outcomes compared to PL at 3 to 6 months postlaryngectomy, but plateau. The PL group continues to improve up to 1 year postoperatively. Fifty percent of patients report on‐going dysphagia after 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Upper airway stimulation (UAS) is a treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea in which electrical stimulation is applied to the hypoglossal nerve. Nerve branches that control tongue protrusion are located inferiorly. Due to positioning, left‐sided implants are typically placed with an inferiorly oriented electrode cuff (L‐down) as opposed to superiorly on the right (R‐up). In this study, we assess the impact of left‐ versus right‐sided UAS on patient outcomes. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary Academic Medical Center. Methods: Patients who underwent UAS implantation between 2016 and 2021 with an L‐down or R‐up oriented cuff as confirmed by X‐ray were included. Data were collected retrospectively. Most recent sleep study variables were used for analysis. Results: A total of 190 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age was 61.0 ± 11.0 years, with 55 (28.9%) females. L‐down orientation was present in 21 (11.1%) patients vs 169 (88.9%) R‐up. Indications for L‐down included hunting/shooting (n = 15), prior radiation/surgery (n = 4), central port (n = 1), and brachial plexus injury (n = 1). Adherence was higher among L‐down patients (47.1 vs 41.0 hours use/week, P =.037) in univariate analysis, with a similar time to adherence data collection (4.4 vs 4.2 months, P =.612), though this finding was not maintained in the multivariate regression analysis. Decrease in apnea‐hypopnea index (21.3 vs 22.8, P =.734), treatment success (76.5% vs 84.0%, P =.665), functional threshold (1.5 vs 1.6, P =.550), therapeutic amplitude (2.3 vs 2.4, P =.882), and decrease in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (4.9 vs 2.6, P =.060) were not significantly different between cohorts. Conclusion: This study is the first to examine the orientation of the UAS electrode cuff concerning the electrodes' natural position and the potential effect on postoperative outcomes. Our study found no significantly different treatment outcomes between the L‐down versus R‐up cohort, with the exception of device adherence, which was significantly higher in the L‐down group on univariate analysis though not on multivariate analysis. Future studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to further investigate this potential relationship between treatment outcomes and electrode cuff orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Head and neck malignancy treatment often involves invasive surgeries, necessitating effective postoperative pain control. However, chronic reliance on opioid medications remains a challenge for many patients after surgery. Multimodal analgesia (MMA) within enhanced recovery after surgery protocols has shown success in limiting narcotic pain medications for other cancer types. In a prior study, MMA comprising acetaminophen, ketorolac, gabapentin, and a neurogenic block reduced opioid use in the 7‐day postoperative period for major head and neck reconstructive surgery. This study investigates the impact of multimodal analgesia on opioid prescription and pain during the 6‐week postoperative period for patients undergoing major head and neck oncologic surgeries, aiming to understand the longer‐term effects of narcotic use. Methods: The study retrospectively examined participants in a [hybrid type 1 effectiveness‐implementation pragmatic trial to assess multimodal analgesia's long‐term effectiveness in head and neck free flap surgery. Arm A received scheduled acetaminophen and as‐needed opioids, while Arm B received scheduled gabapentin, ketorolac, a regional nerve block at the donor site, scheduled acetaminophen, and as‐needed opioids. Retrospective data collection included opioid prescription use and pain scores up to 6 weeks after surgery, gathered from the Kansas prescription drug monitoring program, K‐TRACS. Results: Thirty patients participated, 14 in Arm A and 16 in Arm B. The average morphine milligram equivalents per day of filled prescriptions were not significantly different between Arm A and Arm B (7.23 vs. 7.88, p =.845). Additionally, average pain scores at 6 weeks showed no significant difference between the two groups (1.4 vs. 1.9, p =.612). Conclusion: Patients with head and neck cancer treated with multimodal analgesia during the perioperative period did not exhibit significant differences in opioid use and pain within 6 weeks after discharge. To confirm these findings, a re‐examination with strict measures of opioid use and scheduled pain assessments in a prospective manner is warranted. Level of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Investigating faculty perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) among academic otolaryngology programs. Study Design: Quantitative survey. Setting: Academic otolaryngology departments. Methods: The DEI Inventory was developed by a multi‐institutional health equity consortium and disseminated within 16 academic otolaryngology programs. The inventory consisted of 25 items graded on a 5‐point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree), 2 yes/no questions, and 5 items reflecting overall DEI, stress, and burnout among academic otolaryngologists. Validated imposter phenomenon and personality trait measures were also included. Results: The inventory received 158 (31.0%) partial and 111 (21.8%) full responses. No significant differences were identified in DEI scores by race. Compared to males, females reported lower scores on the overall DEI Inventory (3.6 vs 4.3, p <.001). Female respondents also reported greater levels of imposter phenomenon than their male counterparts (53.2 vs 47.5, p =.049). Conclusion: Preliminary responses to our DEI Inventory suggest that faculty perception of DEI is not impacted by race. Female faculty report considerably lower perceptions of DEI than their male counterparts and experience greater levels of imposter phenomenon. The results of the DEI Inventory can help departments design meaningful interventions to improve levels of DEI among faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), initiating postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) greater than 42 days after surgery is associated with a higher risk of poor survival outcomes. Social support has been shown to modulate behaviors related to care‐seeking and treatment adherence. In this study, we sought to determine the relationship between social support metrics and PORT delays. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Single tertiary medical center. Methods: Patients with HNSCC who underwent primary surgical excision requiring PORT were prospectively enrolled. Patient‐perceived social support metrics were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS‐SSS) at initial presurgical evaluation. Associations with PORT delays were evaluated via univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 111 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. An additional 28 patients were recommended to receive PORT but did not initiate treatment and were included for secondary analysis. All four subscales of the MOS‐SSS (positive social interaction, affectionate support, tangible support, and emotional/informational support) were significantly associated with PORT initiation delays on univariable analysis. On multivariable analysis, the overall MOS‐SSS score (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, 1.15‐4.35, p =.028) was significantly associated with PORT initiation delays. On secondary analysis, lower tangible support was associated with a lack of PORT initiation (OR 1.63, 1.05‐2.54, p =.028). Conclusion: Social support metrics were significantly associated with PORT delays, which may help promote tighter scheduling and closer monitoring of high‐risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): To evaluate the impact of consistent surgical teams on procedure duration in head and neck free tissue transfer, and to evaluate the length of stay and readmission rates with consistent teams. Methods: A retrospective chart review of head and neck microvascular reconstruction by a single surgeon between August 2017 and November 2021 was performed. Procedure duration, wound complications, length of stay, and 30‐day readmissions were analyzed. One circulating nurse (CN) and surgical technologist (ST) were considered "consistent" due to their prior work with the primary surgeon. All others were considered "ad hoc." Teams were "Consistent CN + ST," "Consistent ST," "Consistent CN," or "Ad hoc." Procedure duration between groups was compared via analysis of variance. Multivariate linear regression was performed to predict procedure duration. Results: A total of 135 patients were included. Age, sex, and American Society of Anesthesiologists status did not significantly differ across groups (p = 0.963; p = 0.467; p = 0.908, respectively). The mean procedure duration was 339.3 min and differed significantly across all groups (p = 0.006, Cohen d = 0.32). Compared to the Ad hoc group, consistent teams demonstrated significant reductions in mean procedure duration (Consistent CN + ST: 58.4 min, p = 0.001, Cohen d = 0.67; Consistent ST: 51.6 min, p = 0.013, Cohen d = 0.61; Consistent CN: 44.5 min, p = 0.031, Cohen d = 0.52). Controlling for other factors, the ad hoc team predicted increased procedure duration on multivariate analysis (β 57.38, 19.92–94.85, p < 0.003). Wound complications, length of stay, and readmission rates did not differ significantly across groups (p = 0.940; p = 0.174; p = 0.935, respectively). Conclusion: Consistent CN and ST improve operative efficiency in head and neck‐free tissue transfer. Future studies may evaluate the impact of team consistency on complications, physician burnout, and health systems costs. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:2154–2159, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible laryngoscopy is commonly performed by otolaryngologists to detect laryngeal diseases and to recognize potentially malignant lesions. Recently, researchers have introduced machine learning techniques to facilitate automated diagnosis using laryngeal images and achieved promising results. The diagnostic performance can be improved when patients' demographic information is incorporated into models. However, the manual entry of patient data is time-consuming for clinicians. In this study, we made the first endeavor to employ deep learning models to predict patient demographic information to improve the detector model's performance. The overall accuracy for gender, smoking history, and age was 85.5%, 65.2%, and 75.9%, respectively. We also created a new laryngoscopic image set for the machine learning study and benchmarked the performance of eight classical deep learning models based on CNNs and Transformers. The results can be integrated into current learning models to improve their performance by incorporating the patient's demographic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether preoperative tracheostomy (PreOT) increases risk of complications after total laryngectomy (TL) and to determine if timing of tracheostomy creation is associated with an increased risk. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital between 2007 and 2020. Methods: Inclusion criteria were patients who underwent primary or salvage TL for oncologic treatment. Dependent variables of interest included surgical complications, such as wound dehiscence, infection, hematoma, complete flap failure, fistula formation, and stoma stenosis, as well as medical complications. Categorical variables were compared with chi‐square test or Fisher exact test, and continuous variables were compared with an independent t test. Multivariable regression was conducted to assess predictors of complications after laryngectomy. Results: A total of 306 patients were included. Primary TL was performed in 161 (53%) patients and salvage in 145 (47%) patients. Of the patients undergoing primary laryngectomy, 105 (65%) received a PreOT. Of the patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy, 86 (59%) received a PreOT. In both primary and salvage cases, there was no association between PreOT and surgical or medical complications. Additionally, there was no significant association between timing of tracheostomy and surgical complications. On multivariable analysis, the presence of a PreOT was not associated with surgical complications. In salvage cases, those with a PreOT had a significantly longer average length of stay than those without a PreOT (12 vs 9 days, P =.008). Conclusion: PreOT in patients undergoing primary and salvage laryngectomies was not associated with surgical or medical complications postlaryngectomy. Timing of tracheostomy in relation to laryngectomy was not found to adversely affect clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Maneuvers during drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), have been used as predictors for success with oral appliances. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) promotes opening at the velum through palatoglossus coupling. In this study, we evaluate maneuvers during DISE as predictors for HGNS treatment efficacy. Methods: We evaluated patients undergoing HGNS between November, 2014 and February, 2021. We assessed maneuvers including jaw thrust and chin lift during preoperative DISE. The impact of tongue base and palatal opening during these maneuvers were rated from 1 to 4 (1: no improvement, 2: mild improvement, 3: moderate improvement, 4: significant improvement). Patients were grouped by a score of 1–2 (weak response) or 3–4 (strong response). Apnea hypopnea index (AHI) change was calculated from the difference between preoperative and postoperative sleep study. Results: One hundred and seventy one patients were included. With jaw thrust, there was no significant difference in AHI change between patients with weak or strong response at the palate (n = 68 vs. 94, 9.5 vs. 13.6, p = 0.21) or tongue base (n = 24 vs. 138, 16.6 vs. 11.3, p = 0.24). On chin lift, there was no significant difference at the palate (n = 82 vs. 18, 13.9 vs. 11.4, p = 0.63) or tongue base (n = 92 vs. 72, 10.8 vs. 14.6, p = 0.24). On multiple linear regression analysis, lower body mass index, higher preoperative AHI, and higher preoperative oxygen nadir were associated with a larger AHI change. Conclusion: Palatal coupling maneuvers during DISE are not predictive of AHI change with HGNS. Findings using these maneuvers should not preclude HGNS candidacy. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:431–436, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of current literature on the surgical management of nasal obstruction for eustacian tube dysfunction suggests potential benefit. However, due to the lack of prospective studies with control groups definitive benefit cannot be determined. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the role of nasal surgery in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess reporting quality of machine learning (ML) algorithms in the head and neck oncology literature using the TRIPOD-AI criteria., Data Sources: A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, incorporating search terms related to "artificial intelligence," "machine learning," "deep learning," "neural network," and various head and neck neoplasms., Review Methods: Two independent reviewers analyzed each published study for adherence to the 65-point TRIPOD-AI criteria. Items were classified as "Yes," "No," or "NA" for each publication. The proportion of studies satisfying each TRIPOD-AI criterion was calculated. Additionally, the evidence level for each study was evaluated independently by two reviewers using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) Levels of Evidence. Discrepancies were reconciled through discussion until consensus was reached., Results: The study highlights the need for improvements in ML algorithm reporting in head and neck oncology. This includes more comprehensive descriptions of datasets, standardization of model performance reporting, and increased sharing of ML models, data, and code with the research community. Adoption of TRIPOD-AI is necessary for achieving standardized ML research reporting in head and neck oncology., Conclusion: Current reporting of ML algorithms hinders clinical application, reproducibility, and understanding of the data used for model training. To overcome these limitations and improve patient and clinician trust, ML developers should provide open access to models, code, and source data, fostering iterative progress through community critique, thus enhancing model accuracy and mitigating biases., Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: The management of acute hemorrhage in patients with previously treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is challenging due to the lack of substantial evidence to guide clinical decision making., Methods: A systematic review and retrospective chart review were performed to identify patients with a history of HNSCC who underwent either primary or adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) and presented with hemorrhagic complications requiring embolization. Patient characteristics, history, presentation, and outcomes were reviewed., Results: The systematic review included a total of 182 patients. Heterogeneity existed in outcomes reporting; 1-year overall survival approached 50%. From the retrospective chart review, 51 patients were included. Median survival time following hemorrhage was 2.2 months (range 1.2-11.4 months). Patients with malignancy at time of hemorrhage were identified as having worse survival., Conclusions: Acute hemorrhage in patients with a history of previously radiated HNSCC portends a high risk of mortality, with patients with active malignancy representing a worse prognostic group., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: To develop and validate machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models using drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) images to predict the therapeutic efficacy of hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HGNS) implantation., Methods: Patients who underwent DISE and subsequent HGNS implantation at a tertiary care referral center were included. Six DL models and five ML algorithms were trained on images from the base of tongue (BOT) and velopharynx (VP) from patients classified as responders or non-responders as defined by Sher's criteria (50% reduction in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and AHI < 15 events/h). Precision, recall, F1 score, and overall accuracy were evaluated as measures of performance., Results: In total, 25,040 images from 127 patients were included, of which 16,515 (69.3%) were from responders and 8,262 (30.7%) from non-responders. Models trained on the VP dataset had greater overall accuracy when compared to BOT alone and combined VP and BOT image sets, suggesting that VP images contain discriminative features for identifying therapeutic efficacy. The VCG-16 DL model had the best overall performance on the VP image set with high training accuracy (0.833), F1 score (0.78), and recall (0.883). Among ML models, the logistic regression model had the greatest accuracy (0.685) and F1 score (0.813)., Conclusion: Deep neural networks have potential to predict HGNS therapeutic efficacy using images from DISE, facilitating better patient selection for implantation. Development of multi-institutional data and image sets will allow for development of generalizable predictive models., Level of Evidence: N/A Laryngoscope, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Although chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) incidence has increased, there is limited evidence to guide patient management after surgical evacuation., Objective: To identify predictors of reoperation and functional outcome after CSDH surgical evacuation., Methods: We identified all patients with CSDH between 2010 and 2018. Clinical and radiographic variables were collected from the medical records. Outcomes included reoperation within 90 days and poor (3-6) modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months., Results: We identified 461 surgically treated CSDH cases (396 patients). The mean age was 70.1 years, 29.7 % were females, 298 (64.6 %) underwent burr hole evacuation, 152 (33.0 %) craniotomy, and 11 (2.4 %) craniectomy. Reoperation rate within 90 days was 12.6 %, whereas 24.2 % of cases had a poor functional status at 3 months. Only female sex was associated with reoperation within 90 days (OR = 2.09, 95 % CI: 1.17-3.75, P  = 0.013). AMS on admission (OR = 5.19, 95 % CI: 2.15-12.52, P  < 0.001) and female sex (OR = 3.90, 95 % CI: 1.57-9.70, P  = 0.003) were independent predictors of poor functional outcome at 3 months., Conclusion: Careful management of patients with the above predictive factors may reduce CSDH reoperation and improve long-term functional outcomes. However, larger randomized studies are necessary to assess long-term prognosis after surgical evacuation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Study Objectives: Upper airway stimulation is a surgical option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who fail other forms of noninvasive treatment. Current guidelines recommend a baseline body mass index (BMI) below 32 kg/m 2 for eligibility. In this study, we identify trends in BMI before and after upper airway stimulation to characterize the influence of BMI on treatment success., Methods: Patients underwent upper airway stimulation implantation between 2016 and 2021. Sleep study data were collected from preoperative and most recent postoperative sleep study. BMI data were collected and compared across the following time points: preoperative sleep study (BMI-1), initial surgeon consultation (BMI-2), surgery (BMI-3), titration polysomnogram (BMI-4), and second postoperative sleep study (BMI-5). Patients were categorized into groups (BMI ≥32 [BMI 32 ], 25 ≤ BMI <32 [BMI 25 ], BMI <25 [BMI 18 ]) based BMI-1, and clinical outcomes were compared., Results: 253 patients were included. The BMI 32 group showed a significant decrease in BMI between BMI-1 and BMI-3 (33.9 vs 32.2; P < .001) and a significant increase in BMI between BMI-3 and BMI-5 (32.2 vs 33.0; P = .047). Apnea-hypopnea index improvement and treatment success rate were not significantly different between groups. On univariate and multivariable logistic regression, a lower BMI-5 was significantly predictive of treatment success (odds ratio: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.79-0.97; P = .016). BMI-5 was also significantly associated with improvement in apnea-hypopnea index ( P = .002). Other BMI time points were not associated with measures of treatment success., Conclusions: Reduced BMI after upper airway stimulation implantation, as opposed to baseline BMI, predicted treatment success. These findings may guide patient counseling, with implications for long-term adherence and therapy success., Citation: Renslo B, Virgen CG, Sawaf T, et al. Long-term trends in body mass index throughout upper airway stimulation treatment: does body mass index matter? J Clin Sleep Med . 2023;19(6):1061-1071., (© 2023 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Importance: Timely initiation of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) is associated with reduced recurrence rates and improved overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Measurement of the association of social-ecological variables with PORT delays is lacking., Objective: To assess individual and community-level factors associated with PORT delay among patients with HNSCC., Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study carried out between September 2018 and June 2022 included adults with untreated HNSCC who were enrolled in a prospective registry at a single academic tertiary medical center. Demographic information and validated self-reported measures of health literacy were obtained at baseline visits. Clinical data were recorded, and participant addresses were used to calculate the area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of community-level social vulnerability. Participants receiving primary surgery and PORT were analyzed. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for PORT delays., Exposures: Surgical treatment and PORT., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was PORT initiation delay (>42 days from surgery). Risk of PORT initiation delay was evaluated using individual-level (demographic, health literacy, and clinical data) and community-level information (ADI and rural-urban continuum codes)., Results: Of 171 patients, 104 patients (60.8%) had PORT delays. Mean (SD) age of participants was 61.0 (11.2) years, 161 were White (94.2%), and 105 were men (61.4%). Insurance was employer-based or public among 65 (38.5%) and 75 (44.4%) participants, respectively. Mean (SD) ADI (national percentile) was 60.2 (24.4), and 71 (41.8%) resided in rural communities. Tumor sites were most commonly oral cavity (123 [71.9%]), with 108 (63.5%) classified as stage 4 at presentation. On multivariable analysis, a model incorporating individual-level factors with health literacy in addition to community-level factors was most predictive of PORT delay (AOC= 0.78; R2, 0.18)., Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study provides a more comprehensive assessment of predictors of PORT delays that include health literacy and community-level measures. Predictive models that incorporate multilevel measures outperform models with individual-level factors alone and may guide precise interventions to decrease PORT delay for at-risk patients with HNSCC.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) can result in significant pain, requiring pain management with opioids. Medical cannabis (MC) has the potential to be an alternative to opioids for chronic pain conditions. This study investigates whether MC used in the management of OA-related chronic pain can reduce opioid utilization. Methods Forty patients with chronic OA pain were certified for MC. Average morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day of opioid prescriptions filled within the six months prior to MC certification was compared to that of the six months after. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and Global Health scores were measured at baseline, three, and six months post MC certification. Results Average MME/day decreased from 18.2 to 9.8 (n=40, p<0.05). The percentage of patients who dropped to 0 MME/day was 37.5%. VAS scores decreased significantly at three and six months, and Global Physical Health score increased significantly by three months. Conclusions MC reduces opioid prescription for patients with chronic OA pain and improves pain and quality of life., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Renslo et al.)

Background This study investigates whether the use of medical cannabis (MC) in patients with chronic back pain is associated with a decreased opioid prescription. Methods The study included 186 patients with chronic back pain who were certified for MC use. The average morphine milligram equivalent (MME)/day of opioid prescriptions filled within the six months prior to MC certification was compared to that of six months after. Pain and disability questionnaires were distributed at three, six, and nine months post-certification. Results Patients who started at less than 15 MME/day and patients who started at greater than 15 MME/day decreased from 15.1 to 11.0 (n = 186, p < 0.01), 3.5 to 2---.1 (n = 134, p < 0.01), and 44.9 to 33.9 (n = 52, p < 0.01), respectively. Pain and disability scores were improved at follow-up as well. Conclusion MC use reduces opioid prescription for patients with chronic back pain and improves pain and disability scores., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Greis et al.)