Key takeaways:
Of 182 patients treated at an orthopedic sports medicine clinic, more than 80% were open to receiving THC and CBD products for pain.More than 60% of patients were familiar with the use of THC and CBD for pain.
Among patients seen at an orthopedic clinic, 81.3% were open to receiving THC-based products and 90.1% were open to receiving CBD-based products for the management of musculoskeletal pain, according to published results.
“Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of the increasing popularity of CBD- and THC-based products that are used for musculoskeletal pain in their patient populations,” William J. Karakash, BS, and colleagues from the Epstein Family Center for Sports Medicine at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California wrote in their study. “Providers should continue to educate themselves and their patients regarding the appropriate use of cannabis-oriented pain therapies.”
Of 182 patients treated at an orthopedic sports medicine clinic, more than 80% were open to receiving THC and CBD products for pain. Image: Adobe Stock
Karakash and colleagues distributed a voluntary 11-question survey to 182 patients (mean age, 47.3 years) who were seen at their clinic. The survey documented patient familiarity with THC and CBD products, as well patient amenability to receiving THC and CBD products to treat musculoskeletal pain.
They found 61% of respondents were familiar or somewhat familiar with THC products and 63.2% of respondents were familiar or somewhat familiar with CBD products regarding use of these products for musculoskeletal pain. In addition, 53.3% of respondents reported friends and family were using CBD products to manage musculoskeletal pain.
Overall, 81.3% of respondents were open to receiving THC products and 90.1% of respondents were open to receiving CBD products for musculoskeletal pain. Karakash and colleagues noted 85.3% of respondents said THC and CBD products may be an alternative to opioid use and 96.7% of respondents said insurance should cover THC or CBD products for medical use.
