Baseline and postfusion opioid burden for patients with low back pain.

CONCLUSIONS: The opioid burden in the LBP population is high and is further elevated in those who subsequently undergo fusion surgery. Long-term opioid prescriptions persisted in 27% of fusion patients 12 months post surgery. Efforts to identify efficacious alternative therapies to treat LBP may reduce the societal burden of chronic opioid use. PMID: 30130023 [PubMed - in process]
Source: The American Journal of Managed Care - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Am J Manag Care Source Type: research