Surgical Approach Does Not Affect Chronic Opioid Usage After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Three different surgical approaches (the direct anterior, antero-lateral, and posterior) are commonly used for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Due to an internervous and intermuscular approach, the direct anterior approach may result in less postoperative pain and opioid use, although all 3 approaches have similar outcomes 5 years after surgery. Perioperative opioid medication consumption poses a dose-dependent risk of long-term opioid use. We hypothesized that the direct anterior approach is associated with less opioid usage over 180 days after surgery than the antero-lateral or posterior approaches.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed including 508 patients (192 direct anterior, 207 antero-lateral, and 109 posterior approaches). Patient demographics and surgical characteristics were identified from the medical records. The state prescription database was used to determine opioid use 90 days before and 1 year after THA. Regression analyses controlling for sex, race, age, and body mass index were used to determine the effect of surgical approach on opioid use over 180 days after surgery.

Results: No difference was seen in the proportion of long-term opioid users based on approach (P = .78). There was no significant difference in the distribution of opioid prescriptions filled between surgical approach groups in the year after surgery (P = .35). Not taking opioids 90 days prior to surgery, regardless of approach, was associated with a 78% decrease in the odds of becoming a chronic opioid user (P < .0001).

Conclusion: Opioid use prior to surgery, rather than THA surgical approach, was associated with chronic opioid consumption following THA.