• Jo Ann Shoup, JoEllen Welter, Ingrid A Binswanger, Florian Hess, Alexander Dullenkopf, Jennifer Coker, and Jeffrey Berliner.
• Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Aurora, CO 80014, United States.
• Pain Med. 2023 Oct 3; 24 (10): 113811521138-1152.

ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering neurological condition affecting physical and psycho-social functioning and associated high rates of pain. Thus, individuals with SCI may be more likely to be exposed to prescription opioids. A scoping review was conducted to synthesize published research findings on post-acute SCI and prescription opioid use for pain, identify literature gaps, and propose recommendations for future research.MethodsWe searched 6 electronic bibliographic databases (PubMed [MEDLINE], Ovid [MEDLINE], EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsychNET) for articles published from 2014 through 2021. Terms for "spinal cord injury" and "prescription opioid use" were used. Included articles were in English and peer reviewed. Data were extracted using an electronic database by 2 independent reviewers. Opioid use risk factors for chronic SCI were identified and a gap analysis was performed.ResultsOf the 16 articles included in the scoping review, a majority were conducted in the United States (n = 9). Most articles lacked information on income (87.5%), ethnicity (87.5%), and race (75%). Prescription opioid use ranged from 35% to 64% in articles reporting this information (n = 7 articles, n = 3675 participants). Identified risk factors for opioid use included middle age, lower income, osteoarthritis diagnosis, prior opioid use, and lower-level spinal injury. Limited reporting of diversity in study populations, absence of risk of polypharmacy, and limited high quality methodology were identified gaps.ConclusionsFuture research should report data on prescription opioid use in SCI populations, with additional demographics such as race, ethnicity, and income, given their importance to risk outcomes.© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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