Perioperative Counseling Reduces Opioid Use After ACL Reconstruction Surgery

Follow Drugslib on

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 29, 2025.

via HealthDay

TUESDAY, July 29, 2025 -- Opioid-limiting pain management education and counseling reduce opioid consumption with no increase in postoperative pain among patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery, according to a study published online July 16 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Jonathan D. Packer, M.D., from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues evaluated the impact of opioid-limiting perioperative pain management education and counseling on postoperative opioid consumption in patients aged 14 years and older. The analysis included 121 participants randomly assigned (1:1) either to receive opioid-limiting perioperative pain management education with instructions to take opioids only as a last resort or traditional perioperative pain management with instructions to take opioids as needed for severe pain to "stay ahead of the pain" (control group).

The researchers found that within three months after surgery, patients assigned to the treatment group consumed a mean of 46.0 mg of total morphine equivalents (TMEs) versus 63.6 mg of TMEs in the control group. The average score on the Numeric Rating Scale for pain in the first 14 days was similar between the groups (2.5 in the treatment group versus 2.4 in the control group). There were no significant differences between the groups for refill of oxycodone prescriptions within three months after surgery (four patients in the treatment group and six patients in the control group). The two groups were similar for sleep quality and patient satisfaction.

"This study provides convincing evidence that we should abandon the practice of counseling patients to take opioids to 'stay ahead of the pain' and counsel them to take them as a 'last resort' to manage pain," Packer said in a statement. "We believe that this approach is applicable to all surgeries, and we strongly recommend that clinicians consider adopting this simple strategy in their practice."

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-07-30 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords