Impact of 2.5mg of oral Dronabinol daily versus placebo on post-operative opioid consumption on patients aged 18 to 65 years old undergoing 1 to 3 level posterolateral fusion

This is a randomized double-blind clinical trial comparing 2.5mg of oral Dronabinol daily starting with pre-op cocktail and continued twice daily for three days after surgery versus placebo for patients aged 18 to 65 years old undergoing 1 to 3 level posterolateral fusion. The outcome of interest is post-operative opioid consumption defined as cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 72 hours after surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 to 65 years old
• Patients undergoing 1 to 3 level posterolateral fusion
• Opioid naïve or not
• No prior spine fusion
• Willing and able to sign an Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Indication for surgery is fracture, tumor or infection
• Comorbid psychiatric diagnosis requiring therapy and/or medication
• Comorbid chronic pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia)
• Has hepatic disease
• On workers compensation/disability/litigation
• Known adverse reaction to medications to be administered
• History of alcohol and drug abuse
• On long-acting narcotic pain medication (including extended release narcotic pain medications and methadone)

Placebo, randomization and blinding will be maintained by the Hospital Pharmacy