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Peterman N, Shivdasani K, Pagani N, Mann R, Naik A, Pekas D, Sun D. National Trends in Orthopaedic Pain Management from 2016 to 2020. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2024; 32:e503-e513. [PMID: 38422494 DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-23-00806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Effective pain management is vital in orthopaedic care, impacting postoperative recovery and patient well-being. This study aimed to discern national and regional pain prescription trends among orthopaedic surgeons through Medicare claims data, using geospatial analysis to ascertain opioid and nonopioid usage patterns across the United States. METHODS Physician-level Medicare prescription databases from 2016 to 2020 were filtered to orthopaedic surgeons, and medications were categorized into opioids, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and NSAIDs. Patient demographics were extracted from a Medicare provider demographic data set, while county-level socioeconomic metrics were obtained primarily from the American Community Survey. Geospatial analysis was conducted using Geoda software, using Moran I statistic for cluster analysis of pain medication metrics. Statistical trends were analyzed using linear regression, Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariate logistic regression, focusing on prescribing rates and hotspot/coldspot identification. RESULTS Analysis encompassed 16,505 orthopaedic surgeons, documenting more than 396 million days of pain medication prescriptions: 57.42% NSAIDs, 28.57% opioids, 9.84% anticonvulsants, and 4.17% muscle relaxants. Annually, opioid prescriptions declined by 4.43% ( P < 0.01), while NSAIDs rose by 3.29% ( P < 0.01). Opioid prescriptions dropped by 210.73 days yearly per surgeon ( P < 0.005), whereas NSAIDs increased by 148.86 days ( P < 0.005). Opioid prescriptions were most prevalent in the West Coast and Northern Midwest regions, and NSAID prescriptions were most prevalent in the Northeast and South regions. Regression pinpointed spine as the highest and hand as the lowest predictor for pain prescriptions. DISCUSSION On average, orthopaedic surgeons markedly decreased both the percentage of patients receiving opioids and the duration of prescription. Simultaneously, the fraction of patients receiving NSAIDs dramatically increased, without change in the average duration of prescription. Opioid hotspots were located in the West Coast, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, the Northern Midwest, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Future directions could include similar examinations using non-Medicare databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Peterman
- From the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL (Peterman, Shivdasani, Mann, and Naik), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA (Pagani and Sun), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Education and Research Center, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA (Dr. Pekas)
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Johns WL, Hanna AJ, Destine H, Sonnier JH, Dodson C, Tucker B, Pepe M, Freedman KB, Tjoumakaris F. Lower Opioid Prescription Quantity Does Not Negatively Impact Pain Control or Patient Satisfaction After ACL Reconstruction: A Randomized, Prospective Trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2024; 106:435-444. [PMID: 38285761 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.23.00657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different quantities of prescribed opioid tablets on patient opioid utilization, postoperative pain and function, and satisfaction after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). METHODS This was a prospective, randomized trial enrolling patients undergoing primary ACLR. Patients were assigned to 1 of 3 prescription groups: 15, 25, or 35 tablets containing 5-mg oxycodone. Patients completed visual analog scale (VAS) pain and medication logs, opioid medication satisfaction surveys, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaires postoperatively. RESULTS Among the 180 patients included in the analysis, there was no significant difference in VAS pain scores (p > 0.05), IKDC scores (p > 0.05), morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) (p = 0.510) consumed, or patient satisfaction with regard to pain control (p = 0.376) between treatment groups. Seventy-two percent of opioids were consumed in the first 3 days postoperatively, and 83% of patients in the 15-tablet cohort felt that they received the "right amount" of or even "too many" opioids. CONCLUSIONS The prescription of 15 opioid tablets resulted in equivalent pain control, patient satisfaction, and short-term functional outcomes as prescriptions of 25 or 35 opioid tablets after ACLR. Lower prescription quantities of opioid medication may provide equivalent postoperative pain and help to minimize the number of unused opioid doses at risk for possible diversion after ACLR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level I . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Johns
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Keane OA, Ourshalimian S, Lakshmanan A, Lee HC, Hintz SR, Nguyen N, Ing MC, Gong CL, Kaplan C, Kelley-Quon LI. Institutional and Regional Variation in Opioid Prescribing for Hospitalized Infants in the US. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e240555. [PMID: 38470421 PMCID: PMC10936113 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance High-risk infants, defined as newborns with substantial neonatal-perinatal morbidities, often undergo multiple procedures and require prolonged intubation, resulting in extended opioid exposure that is associated with poor outcomes. Understanding variation in opioid prescribing can inform quality improvement and best-practice initiatives. Objective To examine regional and institutional variation in opioid prescribing, including short- and long-acting agents, in high-risk hospitalized infants. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study assessed high-risk infants younger than 1 year from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022, at 47 children's hospitals participating in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS). The cohort was stratified by US Census region (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Variation in cumulative days of opioid exposure and methadone treatment was examined among institutions using a hierarchical generalized linear model. High-risk infants were identified by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes for congenital heart disease surgery, medical and surgical necrotizing enterocolitis, extremely low birth weight, very low birth weight, hypoxemic ischemic encephalopathy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and other abdominal surgery. Infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, in utero substance exposure, or malignant tumors were excluded. Exposure Any opioid exposure and methadone treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures Regional and institutional variations in opioid exposure. Results Overall, 132 658 high-risk infants were identified (median [IQR] gestational age, 34 [28-38] weeks; 54.5% male). Prematurity occurred in 30.3%, and 55.3% underwent surgery. During hospitalization, 76.5% of high-risk infants were exposed to opioids and 7.9% received methadone. Median (IQR) length of any opioid exposure was 5 (2-12) cumulative days, and median (IQR) length of methadone treatment was 19 (7-46) cumulative days. There was significant hospital-level variation in opioid and methadone exposure and cumulative days of exposure within each US region. The computed intraclass correlation coefficient estimated that 16% of the variability in overall opioid prescribing and 20% of the variability in methadone treatment was attributed to the individual hospital. Conclusions and Relevance In this retrospective cohort study of high-risk hospitalized infants, institution-level variation in overall opioid exposure and methadone treatment persisted across the US. These findings highlight the need for standardization of opioid prescribing in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia A. Keane
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Shadassa Ourshalimian
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ashwini Lakshmanan
- Department of Health Systems Science, Bernard J. Tyson Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, Pasadena, California
| | - Henry C. Lee
- Division of Neonatology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Susan R. Hintz
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Palo Alto, California
| | - Nam Nguyen
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Memorial Care Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Long Beach, California
| | - Madeleine C. Ing
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Cynthia L. Gong
- Fetal and Neonatal Institute, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Cameron Kaplan
- USC Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Lorraine I. Kelley-Quon
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
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Mainprize M, Yilbas A, Spencer Netto FAC, Svendrovski A, Katz J. Incidence of opioid use and early postoperative pain intensity after primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair at a single-center specialty hospital. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2023; 408:366. [PMID: 37726600 DOI: 10.1007/s00423-023-03111-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This research examined opioid use, pain intensity, and pain management after primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair (PUIHR) at a single-center specialty hospital. METHODS After research, ethics board approval, and informed consent, pain scores (0-10 numerical rating scale [NRS]) were obtained from survey-based questionnaires administered at the pre- and 3-day postoperative timepoints. Descriptive results are presented as frequency, mean, standard deviation, range, median, and interquartile ranges, as appropriate. Significance tests were conducted to compare participants who did and did not receive opioids after surgery. p-value <0.05 is considered statistically significant. As the standard of care, participants received nonopioid multimodal analgesia (acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) and opioids, when necessary. RESULTS A total of 414 and 331 participants completed the pre- and 3-day postoperative questionnaires, respectively. Out of the 414 participants, 38 (9.2%) received opioids during the postoperative stay. There was no significant difference between pain frequency or mean preoperative NRS pain intensity scores of those who did and did not receive opioids. Mean NRS pain intensity scores on day 3 after surgery were significantly higher for participants who received opioids (3.15±2.08) than those who did not (2.19±1.95), p=0.005. CONCLUSION Most participants did not receive opioids after PUIHR and had lower mean postoperative NRS pain intensity scores compared to those who did, most likely reflecting the need for opioids among the latter. Opioids were discontinued by day 3 for all participants who received them. Therefore, for most patients undergoing PUIHR, effective pain control can be achieved with nonopioid multimodal analgesia in the early postoperative period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayse Yilbas
- Department of Surgery, Shouldice Hospital, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Joel Katz
- Department of Psychology, York University, ON, Canada
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Harbell MW, Maloney J, Anderson MA, Attanti S, Kraus MB, Strand N. Addressing Bias in Acute Postoperative Pain Management. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2023; 27:407-415. [PMID: 37405551 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-023-01135-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review evaluates disparities in acute postoperative pain management with regard to gender, race, socioeconomic status, age, and language. Strategies for addressing bias are also discussed. RECENT FINDINGS Inequities in acute postoperative pain management may lead to longer hospital stays and adverse health outcomes. Recent literature suggests that there are disparities in acute pain management related to patient gender, race, and age. Interventions to address these disparities are reviewed but require further investigation. Recent literature highlights inequities in postoperative pain management, particularly in relation to gender, race, and age. There is a need for continued research in this area. Strategies such as implicit bias training and using culturally competent pain measurement scales may help reduce these disparities. Continued efforts by both providers and institutions to address and eliminate biases in postoperative pain management are needed to ensure better health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica W Harbell
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 5777 E Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA.
| | - Jillian Maloney
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 5777 E Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA
| | | | | | - Molly B Kraus
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 5777 E Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA
| | - Natalie Strand
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 5777 E Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA
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Shen BQ, Sankaranarayanan I, Price TJ, Tavares-Ferreira D. Sex-differences in prostaglandin signaling: a semi-systematic review and characterization of PTGDS expression in human sensory neurons. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4670. [PMID: 36949072 PMCID: PMC10033690 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31603-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence of sex differences in underlying mechanisms causing pain in preclinical models, and in clinical populations. There are also important disconnects between clinical pain populations and the way preclinical pain studies are conducted. For instance, osteoarthritis pain more frequently affects women, but most preclinical studies have been conducted using males in animal models. The most widely used painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), act on the prostaglandin pathway by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the preclinical and clinical literature on the role of prostaglandins and COX in inflammation and pain. We aimed to specifically identify studies that used both sexes and investigate whether any sex-differences in the action of prostaglandins and COX inhibition had been reported, either in clinical or preclinical studies. We conducted a PubMed search and identified 369 preclinical studies and 100 clinical studies that matched our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Our analysis shows that only 17% of preclinical studies on prostaglandins used both sexes and, out of those, only 19% analyzed or reported data separated by sex. In contrast, 79% of the clinical studies analyzed used both sexes. However, only 6% of those reported data separated by sex. Interestingly, 14 out of 15 preclinical studies and 5 out of 6 clinical studies that analyzed data separated by sex have identified sex-differences. This builds on the increasing evidence of sex-differences in prostaglandin signaling and the importance of sex as a biological variable in data analysis. The preclinical literature identifies a sex difference in prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS) expression where it is higher in female than in male rodents in the nervous system. We experimentally validated that PTGDS expression is higher in female human dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons recovered from organ donors. Our semi-systematic literature review reveals a need for continued inclusivity of both male and female animals in prostaglandins studies and data analysis separated by sex in preclinical and clinical studies. Our finding of sex-differences in neuronal PTGDS expression in humans exemplifies the need for a more comprehensive understanding of how the prostaglandin system functions in the DRG in rodents and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna Q Shen
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Ishwarya Sankaranarayanan
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Theodore J Price
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
| | - Diana Tavares-Ferreira
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
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Kimura C, Kin C. Mitigating Bias in Postoperative Pain Management: a Critical Piece of the Opioid Puzzle. World J Surg 2022; 46:1667-1668. [PMID: 35394229 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-022-06554-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cintia Kimura
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cindy Kin
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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