AAFPRS071 - The Effects of Cannabinoids on Wound Healing
Thursday, April 28, 2022
9:40 AM – 9:45 AM CT
Location: Landmark D
Aniruddha C. Parikh, MD; Christopher S. Jeffery, MD; Benjamin P. Brownlee, MD; Lurdes M. Queimado, MD, PhD; Mark M. Mims, MD
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Parikh, Brownlee, Queimado, Mims)
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Department of General Surgery (Jeffery)
Resident Physician University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Background: Since the widespread legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in the United States, the number of cannabis users is increasing. While the systemic effects of cannabis are well known, its effects on wound healing are not. Many cannabinoids are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, it is hypothesized that cannabinoid’s anti-inflammatory properties may improve wound healing. Learning Objectives: Understand the effects of cannabinoids on wound healing. Study Objective: To perform a comprehensive review of the literature to determine the effects of cannabinoids on wound healing. Design Type: Comprehensive review of the literature. Method: A comprehensive search of articles published on cannabinoids and wound healing was conducted across several databases. Inclusion criteria included basic science, animal, and human studies evaluating the effects of cannabinoids on wound healing. Results: Cannabinoids show an anti-inflammatory effect in in-vitro and animal studies suggesting possible improvement in wound healing. High quality, randomized trials evaluating the effects of cannabinoids on wound healing are lacking. Conclusion: There is a significant increase in cannabis use and its effects on wound healing are unknown. There is a dearth of literature on this topic and further high-quality studies are needed to help physicians counsel their patients on using various formulations of cannabinoid derivatives during the wound healing process.