Deyo RA, et al. - Considering the patients' expectations that lumbar fusion surgery may eliminate the need for opioids in chronic back pain patients, researchers sought to determine what the fraction of long-term preoperative opioid users discontinue or reduce dosage postoperatively; what fraction of patients with little preoperative use initiate long-term use; and what predicts long-term postoperative use. They performed a retrospective cohort study including 2,491 adults undergoing lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative conditions, using Oregon's prescription drug monitoring program, they quantified opioid use before and after hospitalization. Findings revealed infrequent elimination of long-term opioid use on undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. Opioid-naive patients were noted to be at substantial risk of initiating long-term use. Thus they suggest patients to have realistic expectations regarding opioid use after lumbar fusion surgery.