Opioid Epidemic
Opioid-free pain management pathway may yield similar pain outcomes as opioid pathway
According to published results, a novel opioid-free pathway may provide noninferior pain management compared with an opioid-containing pathway during the perioperative period in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.
Preoperative opioid use may be linked with inferior outcomes after rotator cuff repair
According to published results, patients with a history of preoperative opioid use had inferior outcomes for pain and function in the early postoperative period after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair compared with opioid-naïve patients.
Purdue Pharma, Sackler family to pay $7.4 billion settlement in opioid lawsuits
Purdue Pharma and its owners have agreed to pay up to $7.4 billion in a new settlement to lawsuits regarding their role in the opioid epidemic, the attorneys general of over a dozen states announced.
Machine learning models may predict risk of prolonged opioid use after hand surgery
Use of machine learning models may successfully predict postoperative pain experiences and risk for prolonged opioid use among patients who undergo hand surgery, according to published results.
Supreme Court blocks Sackler family immunity, dismantles Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Thursday that members of the Sackler family cannot be protected from future lawsuits for their roles in the opioid epidemic.
VIDEO: Educating practitioners about naloxone benefits patients
TORONTO — Preliminary results of a project to educate practitioners about naloxone use showed it improved their knowledge of the opioid antagonist and significantly increased naloxone distribution to patients at a Los Angeles clinic.
Methylprednisolone taper may reduce pain, opioid consumption after TSA
SAN FRANCISCO — Results presented here showed a methylprednisolone taper course after total shoulder arthroplasty may reduce patient pain and opioid consumption without an increase in complications.
Duloxetine may not impact patients’ opioid use, sleep duration or outcomes after TKA
SAN FRANCISCO — Results presented here showed the perioperative administration of duloxetine may not impact opioid requirements, sleep duration or patient-reported outcomes after primary total knee arthroplasty.
Patient counseling, education may reduce opioid consumption after ACL reconstruction
SAN FRANCISCO — According to presented results, a perioperative pain management education and counseling strategy may reduce opioid consumption in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with no negative effects on pain control or outcomes.
Social determinants may help predict rates of opioid prescriptions, opioid-related death
Social determinants of health may predict rates of opioid prescriptions per beneficiary and opioid-related death, according to recently published results.