Effects of Ohio Opioid Prescribing Policy on Postsurgical Prescriptions Following Sports Procedures

Background: Prescribed opioid medication after orthopedic sports surgery has been shown to exceed patient requirements. In 2017, as a response the epidemic, Ohio passed Opioid Prescribing Guidelines (OPG) limiting narcotic prescriptions for acute pain. This study sought evaluate effects of OPG on prescribing behavior orthopedists following knee arthroscopy (KA), shoulder (SA), and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: An institutional database was queried calculate morphine equivalent dose (MED) prescribed at discharge, follow-up (<90 days), chronic (>90 days) compare MED pre- post-OPG. Cases were identified over 2-year period starting 1 year prior implementation. Individual surgeon data tracked control inter-surgeon variability. Results: A total 1663 patients included in analysis. Demographic variables similar post-OPG each procedure group. With all surgeons included, average discharge decreased significantly procedures from Surgeons qualified individual analysis if they had least 10 surgeries Of qualifying providers, 80% KA, 25% SA, 0% ACLR reduced during largely unaffected by implementation OPG. Conclusion: Average The reduction effect greatest magnitude SA only that showed reductions persisted follow up. beyond 90 days postoperatively unchanged surgeries. Policy restricts postoperative can be an effective, but incomplete method address crisis.