Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
12:20
Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
21.3K
Getting the Message: The Declining Trend in Opioid Prescribing for Minor Orthopaedic Injuries in Children and
Arielle R Krakow1, Divya Talwar2, Nishank N Mehta3
1Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Summary
Opioid prescribing for pediatric fractures has decreased nationwide, yet regional disparities persist. This study highlights progress in addressing the pediatric opioid crisis while underscoring the need for continued attention to prescribing patterns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Opioid misuse is a growing concern among children and adolescents in the U.S.
- Media coverage and policy attention are increasing regarding the opioid prescription epidemic.
- Understanding opioid prescribing for pediatric fractures is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in opioid prescribing for nonoperatively managed pediatric fractures and dislocations.
- To examine regional variations in opioid prescribing patterns across the United States.
- To assess changes in opioid use for pediatric orthopedic injuries over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database (2004-2017).
- Inclusion of 10 common diagnoses for nonoperatively managed pediatric fractures/dislocations treated in emergency departments or outpatient clinics.
- Utilized mixed-effects logistic regression to analyze trends and account for hospital variation.
Main Results:
- A cohort of 134,931 pediatric patients (mean age 12.57 years) was analyzed.
- Over half (51.69%) of patients received at least one opioid prescription.
- Opioid prescription rates were higher in the South and Midwest regions compared to the Northeast.
Conclusions:
- Opioid prescription rates for pediatric fractures have declined significantly across all regions.
- Substantial interregional variability in prescribing practices remains.
- The downward trend indicates progress in managing pediatric pain and addressing the opioid crisis.
Related Concept Videos
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
842
Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
842
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
416
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
416
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
358
Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
358
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
786
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
786
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
2.2K
When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.2K
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
649
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
649