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Comparison Of Narcotic Prescribing Habits Between Trainee And Attending Orthopaedic Surgeons, Christopher L. Shultz, Ryan C. Price, Brett S. Mulawka, Dustin L. Richter, Gehron P. Treme

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

Background: Orthopaedic surgeons are among the highest prescribing physicians of narcotics to opioidnaïve patients. Despite the current opioid epidemic, few studies have specifically quantified the appropriate amount of opioids necessary for postoperative pain control. We hypothesized a significant variability in the quantity of postoperative opioids prescribed among trainee (ie, residents and fellows) and attending surgeons at a single institution.

Methods: Postoperative narcotic prescribing habits were assessed using an anonymous survey. Ultimately, 28 trainee physicians and 17 attending physicians responded to the survey (86.5%). The survey recorded the amount of 5-mg oxycodone tablets that were commonly prescribed to manage pain after …

Multimodal Analgesia In Orthopaedic Surgery And Presentation Of A Comprehensive Postoperative Pain Protocol: A Review, Christopher L. Shultz, Benjamin D. Packard, Kathryn C. Helmig, Christopher Kurnik, Benjamin S. Albertson, Nathan E. Huff, Gehron P. Treme

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

Rising opioid use in the United States has now been termed an epidemic. Opioid use is associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and cost to the healthcare system. Orthopaedic surgeons play a key role in the opioid epidemic by prescribing postoperative narcotics. Although our understanding of the quantity of narcotics to prescribe postoperatively for analgesia is progressing, there is still a paucity of data focused on routine postoperative pain protocols. The purpose of this article is to review the current options for both opioid and non-opioid analgesia and put forth a multisubspecialty orthopaedic protocol of postoperative pain. On the basis of …