Journal of surgical orthopaedic advances
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The purpose of our study was to determine the optimum number of opioid pills and morphine milligram equivalents (MME) required to treat postoperative pain following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. A retrospective cohort study of 77 patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy between January, 2017 and May, 2019 was conducted. Of patients, 19.48% took no opioids following surgery. ⋯ Patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy are commonly overprescribed opioids postoperatively. On average, patients consumed just under five narcotic pills, less than one-third of the number prescribed. A standard prescription of 5 opioid pills or 25 MME is recommended for patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(4):240-243, 2020).