Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine
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Orthop J Sports Med · Sep 2019
Impact of a Standardized Multimodal Analgesia Protocol on Opioid Prescriptions After Common Arthroscopic Procedures.
Excessive prescription of opioids has become a national problem. Providers must attempt to decrease the amount of opioids prescribed while still providing patients with adequate pain relief after surgery. ⋯ Institution of a standardized multimodal analgesia protocol significantly decreased the amount of opioids dispensed after common arthroscopic procedures. This reduction in the amount of opioids given on the day of surgery did not result in an increased demand for refills. Our study also demonstrated that 20 opioid pills were adequate for patients undergoing meniscectomy and 40 pills were adequate for ACL reconstruction and RCR in the majority of cases. This protocol serves as a way for providers to decrease the amount of opioids dispensed after surgery while providing patients with alternatives for pain relief.