Table 3 Population, cannabinoid intervention, and control group of identified studies

Beaulieu [17]

Adults with post-operative PCA device

n = 20 (85% female)

Nabilone 1 mg, n = 11 (n = 5 TKA or THA)

Nabilone 2 mg, n = 9 (n = 6 TKA or THA)

4 total doses: 1-h post induction, then every eight hours with morphine PCA

n = 11 (90% female) (2 THA or TKA)

Ketoprofen 50 mg

n = 10 (60% female) (5 THA or TKA)

Placebo

Haroutounian et al [26]

Adults with chronic pain > 3 months

n = 206 (38% female) (14.6% attrition rate) (n = 76 musculoskeletal pain, n = 39 low back pain, n = 1 avascular necrosis of leg)

n = 136 Smoked, n = 17 oral drops, n = 8 drops and smoked, n = 9 cookies, n = 6 cookies and drops

Mean 43.2 g/month added to analgesic regiment

THC 6–14% smoked and 11–19% oral

CBD 0.2–3.8% smoked and 0.5–5.5% oral

None

Hickernell et al. [9]

Adults post primary THA or TKA

n = 81 (65.4% female) (60.5% TKA)

Dronabinol 5mg p.o. B.I.D with standard pain control during course of hospital stay

n = 162 (63.5% female) (57.4% TKA)

matched, no placebo given

Holdcroft et al. [25]

Adults with post-operative PCA

n = 65 (72% female) (n = 23 orthopaedic surgeries)

Oral caplet of THC:CBD in 1:0.3 (in 5 mg group) and 1:0.5 ratio given at either 5, 10, and 15 mg of THC

Matched into 3 tiers of dosing, no placebo control

Hunter et al.^a [18]

Adults with knee osteoarthritis

n = 211 (100% knee osteoarthritis)

Synthetic cannabidiol transdermal gel administered for 12 weeks dosed at:

125 mg B.I.D (N = 106) or 250mg B.I.D (N = 105)

n = 103 placebo gel

Jain et al. [19]

Adults with acute fracture or postoperative pain

n = 40 (7.5% female)

IM levonantradol given blinded as 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 mg doses in addition to meperidine IV, n = 10 each dose

n = 16 (1.25% female)

IM placebo

Levin et al. [20]

Perioperative patients with risk factors for post-operative nausea and vomiting

n = 172 (100% female)

(n = 14 orthopaedic procedures, n = 9 spine procedures)

0.5 mg p.o. nabilone taken within 3 h prior to induction of anesthesia.

n = 168 (100% female)

(n = 14 orthopaedic procedures, n = 9 spine procedures)

Identical placebo

Mondello et al. [27]

FBSS patients with moderate to severe pain after spinal cord stimulation therapy

n = 11 (45% female)

CBD (< 1%)/THC(19%) oleic suspension p.o. mean dose 68.5 mg/day

None

Notcutt et al. [22]

Patients with chronic pain recalcitrant to opioids

n = 34 (68% female) (0.9% attrition) (n = 8 post spine surgery, n = 3 post orthopaedic trauma, n = 1 arthralgia)

Extracts > 95% purity administered sublingually randomized into four groups given for 2 weeks: 2.5 mg THC, 2.5 mg CBD, 2.5 mg CBD, and 2.5 mg CBD, placebo

None

Poli et al. [28]

Adults with chronic pain recalcitrant to two analgesic treatments.

n = 725 (62% female) (n = 41 arthritis) (53.3% attrition rate over 12 months)

19%THC/< 1%CBD cannabis strain taken as a tea p.o.. Dosed at 28 mg/day, equating to 5 mg/day THC. Titrated up with “most” taking 10 mg THC/day

None

Ware et al. [21]

Adults with chronic pain refractory to other treatments

N = 215 (49% female) (16.3% “nociceptive pain”)

(31.2% attrition rate at 12 months)

Herbal cannabis (n = 58 smoked, n = 130 combination, n = 17 oral)

12.5% THC +/-1.5%, median dose 2.5 g/day

n = 216 (64.8% female) (18.1% “nociceptive pain”)

(15.7% attrition rate at 12 months)

Yassin et al. [23]

Adults with low back pain or sciatica refractory to surgical treatment and/or opioid analgesics

n = 46 (52% female) (n = 9 post spinal fusion, n = 17 spinal stenosis, n = 20 disk herniation) (0% attrition)

150–175 mg Q.I.D. smoked in addition to tramadol and duloxetine

None

Yassin et al. [24]

Adults with low back pain > 12 months, symptomatic fibromyalgia, and failure of opioid therapy

n = 31 (90% female) (n = 13 disk herniation, n = 21 degenerative changes of spine) (0% attrition)

2/3 g day of smoked cannabis without other analgesics. 1:4 THC:CBD, THC < 5% in addition to oxycodone

None