AAHKS Members Surveyed on Opioid Prescribing

A survey of AAHKS members on opioid prescribing has been published as a study in Orthopedics. According to Charles P. Hannon, MD, who is the lead on the AAHKS opioid awareness task force, the study “demonstrates the significant variability in opioid prescribing after total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) among AAHKS members. In their study, over 25% of AAHKS members prescribe greater than 80 opioid pills after THA and TKA likely leaving these patients with an excess of unused opioid pills. Evidence based opioid prescribing guidelines are needed to prevent overprescribing of opioids after total joint arthroplasty.” Read the Orthopedics Today summary and the published study.