Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Introduction
A common belief is that some narcotic medications have a higher association with prolonged use. We assessed whether the initial opiate type prescribed to postoperative, opiate-naive orthopaedic trauma patients was associated with prolonged opioid use.Methods
We studied 17,961 adult, opiate-naive patients treated for a surgical musculoskeletal injury. Discharge prescription in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs, a standardized dosing unit that allows for comparison across opioid types) was calculated. Opioid prescribing beyond 90 days after injury was defined as prolonged use.Results
Initial analysis demonstrated a higher likelihood of prolonged use for patients discharged on hydromorphone or morphine versus hydrocodone. However, when we adjusted for discharge MME, only opioid quantity was predictive of prolonged use (P < 0.001). In addition, discharge MME was associated with opioid type (P < 0.01).Discussion
Persistent opiate use was associated with discharge opioid quantity, not the opioid type. These results highlight the importance of calculating equivalence doses when selecting opioid types and considering amount of narcotics prescribed.Level of evidence
Level III.
SUBMITTER: Basilico M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6590520 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Basilico Matthew M Bhashyam Abhiram R AR Harris Mitchel B MB Heng Marilyn M
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 20190501 9
<h4>Introduction</h4>A common belief is that some narcotic medications have a higher association with prolonged use. We assessed whether the initial opiate type prescribed to postoperative, opiate-naive orthopaedic trauma patients was associated with prolonged opioid use.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied 17,961 adult, opiate-naive patients treated for a surgical musculoskeletal injury. Discharge prescription in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs, a standardized dosing unit that allows for comparison ...[more]