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Burn Injury and Long-Term Opioid Use
Victoria R Hammond1, David D Keeven1, Jonathan C Vacek1
1The Hiram C. Polk, Jr. MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|May 25, 2025
Summary
Most burn patients receive short-term opioid prescriptions. Pre-injury opioid use is the primary risk factor for long-term dependence after burn injury, not the burn itself.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Pain Management
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Opioid exposure is a known risk factor for long-term use and dependence.
- Burn patients are at risk for prolonged opioid use post-hospitalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the prevalence of long-term prescription opioid use in burn patients after hospitalization.
- Identify risk factors associated with long-term opioid dependence in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of burn center admissions over one year.
- Utilized controlled substance reporting system for opioid use tracking (6 months pre-injury to 12 months post-discharge).
- Defined long-term use as active opioid prescription at 12 months post-discharge.
Main Results:
- 184 patients included; 54.7% received opioids at discharge.
- 9.2% (17 patients) exhibited persistent opioid use at 1 year.
- Pre-injury opioid use was the sole independent risk factor (P < 0.001); 16/17 long-term users had prior prescriptions.
Conclusions:
- Majority of burn patients receive short-term opioid therapy post-discharge.
- Burn injury alone does not appear to be associated with long-term opioid use in opioid-naive patients.
- Pre-existing opioid use is a critical predictor of sustained opioid use after burn injury.
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