Not all opioids prescribed were consumed following arthroscopic sports medicine procedures

Shelby R. Smith

ORLANDO — Results presented at the Arthroscopy Association of North America Annual Meeting showed an average of 10 to 14 opioid pills were unconsumed by patients following common arthroscopic sports medicine procedures.

Shelby R. Smith, BS, and colleagues distributed surveys to patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, meniscectomy, meniscus repair, shoulder labral repair and hip surgery for femoroacetabular impingement on postoperative days 1 through 14 and again on postoperative day 21.

“The surveys distributed on postoperative days 1 through 14 asked about number of opioid pills that were consumed in the previous 24 hours,” Smith said in her presentation here. “The survey distributed on postoperative day 21 asked about the number of opioid pills that were consumed in the previous 7 days, as well as the number of pills they had remaining and what they intended on doing with them.”

Among 74 patients enrolled, Smith noted most underwent ACL reconstruction, followed by hip surgery and meniscectomy. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction reported consuming the greatest average number of opioid pills at 16.87 pills.

“The average number of opioid pills that were remaining following all procedures ranged from 10 to 14,” Smith said.

From postoperative days 15 through 21, only seven patients reportedly consumed opioid pills, she noted.

“The majority of our patients had reported they would dispose of them in some way, including flushing them down the toilet, throwing them in the trash or giving them to a specified facility,” Smith said. “Of note, only seven patients reported they would keep them for future use, and no one recorded that they would give them to someone who may need them.” – by Casey Tingle

Reference:

Smith SR, et al. Postoperative opioid usage following outpatient arthroscopic sports medicine procedures. Presented at: Arthroscopy Association of North America Annual Meeting; May 2-4, 2019; Orlando.

Disclosure: Smith reports no relevant financial disclosures.