Combating the Opioid Epidemic: Experience with a Single Prescription for Total Joint Arthroplasty.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite advances in perioperative total joint arthroplasty (TJA) pain protocols, opiates continue to play a major role in postoperative pain control. This brief communication reports our experience with a restrictive opioid protocol allowing patients only a single prescription of low-dose opioids.

Methods

One hundred consecutive elective, primary, and revision TJAs were analyzed. All patients received preoperative counseling and multimodal analgesia. Counseling involved discussion of patient expectations on postoperative pain management, weaning off opioids before surgery, and emphasis that opioid refills were not permitted. Ninety-day outcomes including pain-related phone calls, opioid refill requests, emergency room visits, complications, and readmissions were a

SUBMITTER: Sun D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7451889 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature