A Surgeon-Volume Comparison of Opioid Prescribing Patterns to Adolescents Following Outpatient Shoulder, Hip, and Knee Arthroscopy.

Purpose: Given the wide variation that exists in the amount and duration of postoperative opioid medication prescribed by orthopedic surgeons, the purpose of the current study was to analyze the opioid prescribing patterns at our institution for adolescent patients undergoing outpatient sports medicine procedures Methods: A total of 468 adolescent patients (between the ages of 13 and 18 years old) who underwent outpatient shoulder, hip, or knee arthroscopy (including ACL reconstruction) between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively identified, and demographic data were collected. Opioid prescriptions following surgery were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME) for direct comparison. Prescribing patterns of the 44 surgeons included in our cohort were evaluated with respect to procedures performed and overall surgical volume. High-dose prescriptions were defined as ≥ 300 MME (equivalent to 40 tabs of oxycodone/ acetaminophen [Percocet] 5/325 mg) and low-dose prescriptions were defined as < 300 MME.

Results: The mean discharge prescription following outpatient arthroscopy in this patient population was 299.8 ± 271 MME. When each individual case-type was analyzed, there were significant positive correlations between surgeonvolume and MME prescribed following shoulder arthroscopy (r = 0.387, p < 0.001) and knee arthroscopy, (r = 0.350, p < 0.001). Results of logistic regression demonstrated that for every 10 additional cases performed, the odds that a given surgeon would prescribe ≥ 300 MME postoperatively increased by a factor of 1.14 (p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations observed following hip arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, or meniscus repair. Over the course of the observation period, a significant reduction in opioid prescribing was seen among the participating surgeons.

Conclusion: Surgeons who perform a greater volume of outpatient shoulder and knee arthroscopy on adolescent patients were more likely to prescribe high opioid dosages postoperatively. Awareness of existing variation in narcotic prescribing patterns for patients in this age group is important for quality of care and safety improvement amidst the opioid epidemic.