A study published in JAMA showed that pairing lower opioid pill counts with education efforts decreased how many pills knee surgery patients took and how long they used the pills after surgery.
Researchers studied 264 patients who had their anterior cruciate ligaments repaired at a single academic ASC. Researchers gave:
- 109 patients 50 opioid tablets with no education
- 78 patients 30 tablets and preprocedure education
- 77 patients 30 tablets with no education
Researchers followed up with the patients three weeks post-procedure. Here's what they learned:
1. Patients who received 50 tablets consumed 25.4 tablets on average for 5.8 days post-procedure.
2. Patients who received 30 tablets with no education consumed 15.6 tablets on average for 4.5 days post-procedure.
3. Patients who received 30 tablets and the opioid-use education used 12.4 tablets for 3.5 days post-procedure.
Researchers concluded: "Prescribing fewer tablets was associated with lower postoperative opioid consumption following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Education was associated with lower duration and quantity of postoperative opioid use."
Researchers noted some limitations, including recall bias and study size.
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