Opioid Consumption Following Foot and Ankle Surgery

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Postoperative pain management after foot and ankle surgery often involves opioid prescription.
• The actual pain control efficacy and quantity of prescribed opioids are not well-documented.
• Leftover opioid medication presents a potential risk for misuse and community contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the quantity of prescribed opioids remaining after foot and ankle surgery.
• To assess patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control.
• To determine patient willingness to surrender leftover opioids for safe disposal.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series included 171 patients undergoing foot/ankle surgery.
• Data collected included prescribed opioid quantity, pain control satisfaction, and willingness to surrender leftovers.
• Medical records were reviewed for procedure type, anatomic region, and perioperative nerve block use.

Main Results:

• The average patient took 27.2 opioid pills, with most (73.5%) satisfied with pain control.
• Patients undergoing ankle/hindfoot procedures used more long-acting opioids.
• A significant portion of patients with leftover opioids were willing to surrender them to disposal centers.

Conclusions:

• Most foot and ankle surgery patients have leftover opioids, yet are willing to dispose of them.
• Optimizing prescription quantities and promoting safe disposal can reduce the number of unused opioids in the community.
• This approach can enhance pain management while mitigating risks associated with leftover opioid medications.