Burn Injury and Long-Term Opioid Use

Exposure to opioids is a known risk factor for long-term use and dependence. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of long-term prescription opioid use among burn patients after hospitalization and to identify any risk factors for long-term dependence.

All patients admitted to a burn center during a single year period (2/1/2020-2/1/21) were examined. Deaths were excluded. A controlled substance reporting system was utilized to determine prescription opioid use from 6 mos prior to 12 mos post discharge. The duration of opioid use was examined. Long-term use was defined as active opioid prescription at 12 mos post discharge.

A total of 184 patients were included in the study. A total of 54.7% of patients received an opioid prescription at discharge. Seventeen patients (9.2%) had persistent opioid use at 1 year. The only independent risk factor identified for long-term opioid use was preinjury use (P < 0.001). Among the 17 patients on opioids at 1 year, 16 had filled three or more opioid prescriptions in the 6 mos prior to injury. The only patient with long-term opioid use without a pre-existing opioid history had multiple readmissions and delayed operative interventions after their initial hospital course.

A majority of burn patients received opioids for pain control following hospital discharge. However, the duration of therapy was generally short among opioid-naive patients. Burn injury was not associated with long-term prescription opioid use among opioid-naive patients.