Characterization of Post-Operative Opioid Use Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Post-operative opioid use is a significant concern following joint replacement surgery.
• Understanding factors influencing opioid prescription refills is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine post-operative opioid consumption in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.
• To identify factors associated with the need for opioid prescription refills in these patient groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of online prescription data for 197 TKA and 186 THA patients.
• Calculation of filled prescriptions, total morphine equivalent dose (MED), pill quantity, and duration of opioid use.
• Comparison of opioid data between TKA and THA cohorts and examination of comorbidity correlations with refill status.

Main Results:

• TKA patients received more prescriptions, a higher total MED, and were on opioids for longer durations compared to THA patients (P < .001).
• TKA patients were significantly more likely to require refills for a greater quantity of pills (P < .001).
• Comorbidities (P = .003) and anxiety/depression (P = .004) were independently correlated with increased opioid refill risk in TKA patients.

Conclusions:

• TKA patients demonstrate higher post-operative opioid utilization and a greater likelihood of requiring refills compared to THA patients.
• The presence of comorbidities or a diagnosis of anxiety/depression significantly elevates the risk of needing opioid refills after TKA.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted pain management strategies in TKA patients, particularly those with specific comorbidities.