Implementing Prescribing Guidelines for Upper Extremity Orthopedic Procedures: A Prospective Analysis of Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Satisfaction

Background: A lack of established opioid-prescribing guidelines has prompted recent studies to propose preliminary guidelines to mitigate inadvertent overprescribing, diversion, and abuse. The purpose of our study was to assess the efficacy of a specific set of opioid-prescribing guidelines by prospective evaluation of patient consumption and satisfaction. Methods: During a consecutive period, all patients undergoing outpatient upper extremity surgical procedures were postoperatively prescribed opioids based on published guidelines that were specific to the anatomical location and procedure being performed. At the first postoperative visit, surgical details, opioid consumption patterns, and prescription efficacy and satisfaction were recorded. Results: A total of 201 patients reported any amount of prescription use, resulting in a mean consumption of 5.5 pills. Patients who underwent soft tissue procedures reported the lowest requirement (4.2 pills) compared with those who underwent fracture repairs (6.7 pills) or arthroscopy and arthroplasty/fusion procedures (8.7 pills). Patients undergoing hand procedures consumed fewer opioids (3.9 pills) compared with those undergoing wrist (6.3 pills) or elbow (8.1 pills) procedures. Of the patients requiring opioids, 82% reported being satisfied or at least neutral to the prescribed quantity (P < .001), and 92% reported being satisfied or at least neutral to the prescribed opioid analgesic efficacy (P < .001). Overall, the study refill request rate was 13%. Conclusions: Although the proposed guidelines tended to exceed patient need, the study confirmed strong patient satisfaction and an overall refill request rate of only 13%. We conclude that following anatomical and procedure-specific opioid-prescribing guidelines is an effective method of prescribing opioids postoperatively after upper extremity.