Opioid Use Before THA Tied to Worse Outcomes

Healio reported on April 21 that opioid use before elective total hip arthroplasty was linked to longer stay and higher rate of all-cause emergency room visits. The study, originally published in the journal Orthopedics, examined approximately 780 patients who underwent THA, 10% of whom reported using opioids. This group reported more poor intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, such as increased time in surgery and longer length of stay.