Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
14:56

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)

Published on: January 27, 2010

Evolving Trends in Perioperative Pain Management for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cranial Vault Remodeling and Strip

Andrew Salib1, William Bai, Victoria Kong

  • 1Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|May 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric craniosynostosis surgery shows declining opioid use and increased acetaminophen administration over the last decade. This indicates a national shift towards multimodal, opioid-sparing pain management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pain Management
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • Perioperative analgesic use in pediatric craniosynostosis surgery is not well-understood.
  • This study investigates opioid exposure differences between surgical techniques and tracks analgesic trends.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare opioid exposure between cranial vault remodeling (CVR) and strip craniectomy (SC) in pediatric craniosynostosis surgery.
  • To analyze temporal trends in analgesic utilization for these procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 14,195 pediatric patients from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database (2015-2025).
  • Opioid exposure quantified as morphine milligram equivalents (MME).
  • Comparative statistical analyses and linear regression modeling for temporal trends.

Main Results:

  • Total and daily opioid exposure were significantly higher in CVR compared to SC.
  • Opioid utilization decreased significantly over time for both CVR and SC procedures.
  • Acetaminophen use increased, while opioid administration decreased for both surgical types.

Conclusions:

  • National opioid utilization for pediatric craniosynostosis surgery has declined over the past decade.
  • There has been a significant increase in acetaminophen use.
  • Findings suggest a nationwide shift towards multimodal, opioid-sparing perioperative pain management.
Abstract

Keywords:
Acetaminophencranial vault remodelingcraniosynostosisopioidspainstrip craniectomy

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