Chronic Preoperative Opioid Use Is Associated With Increased Health Care Utilization Following Ankle Fracture Surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic opioid use has been linked to adverse surgical outcomes, yet its impact on ankle fracture surgery remains underexplored. This study evaluates the association between preoperative opioid use and postoperative health care utilization in patients undergoing surgical fixation for an isolated ankle fracture.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a level 1 trauma center over a 2-year period. Patients who underwent surgical fixation for an isolated ankle fracture were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Those with concurrent orthopaedic injuries or insufficient follow-up data were excluded. Patients were categorized as long-term opioid users (>3 months of opioid use) or opioid-naïve. Electronic medical record

SUBMITTER: Hale IC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12719581 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature