Recent studies conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan have highlighted that a few common surgical procedures contribute significantly to the opioid prescriptions given to both children and adults following surgery.
According to research published in Pediatrics and JAMA Network Open, certain surgeries stand out in terms of opioid prescriptions post-surgery. For children aged 0-11, procedures like tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies (50%), upper extremity fractures (5%), and removal of deep implants (4%) make up 59% of all opioids prescribed. In the 12-21 age group, tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies (13%), knee arthroscopies (13%), and cesarean deliveries (8%) account for one-third of opioid prescriptions.
Among adults aged 18-44, C-sections lead in opioid prescriptions post-surgery (19%), followed by hysterectomies (7%), and knee arthroscopies (6%). In the 45-64 age group, orthopedic procedures dominate the top five, making up 27% of total opioid prescriptions after surgery.
Lead author Kao-Ping Chua noted, “Our research indicates that opioid prescribing after surgery is concentrated in a small number of procedures. It is essential to target these procedures for safe and appropriate opioid prescribing practices.”
The study utilized an algorithm to identify 1,082 major surgical procedures using medical classification codes. This algorithm helped pinpoint privately and publicly insured individuals undergoing surgery between Dec. 1, 2020, and Nov. 30, 2021.
Thanks to a unique data organization system devised by the researchers, disparate data sets were interconnected, enhancing comparability and analysis capabilities.
Aside from identifying the procedures with the highest opioid shares, the team also analyzed the quantity of opioids prescribed for each surgery. The findings revealed that, in many cases, the amount of opioids prescribed exceeded what patients typically require for pain management post-surgery.
Lead author Dominic Alessio-Bilowus, a medical student at Wayne State University who recently completed a research year at U-M and published the study focused on adults in JAMA Network Open, emphasized, “Our study underscores the potential to reduce opioid prescribing following surgery without compromising pain relief.”
