Introduction: The purpose of this study was to quantify how opioid use in patients with traumatic injury compared with opioid use in patients undergoing elective arthroplasty.
Methods: In a retrospective review, 235 adult trauma patients treated surgically for fracture were compared with 98 patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty. Inpatient, discharge, and postdischarge opioid use were recorded in oral morphine equivalents (OMEs).
Results: There were no differences between trauma and elective arthroplasty patients for inpatient opioid use (OME/day: 70.2 vs. 67.3; P = 0.53), discharge prescription (OME: 542 vs. 594; P = 0.13), or postdischarge opioid use (OME: 986 vs. 1,147; P = 0.29). Postdischarge opioid use was positively correlated with Caucasian race, intensive care unit admission, baseline alcohol or opioid use, and higher discharge prescriptions (P < 0.0001; adjusted R2 = 0.127). Discharge prescription amount was the most significant predictor.
Discussion: Traumatic injury is not a predictor of high post-discharge opioid use. Demographic, social, and physician prescribing behaviors contribute to higher postdischarge opioid consumption.