145. Opioid utilization in adult idiopathic scoliosis after multilevel deformity correction: postoperative trends and factors associated with long-term use

Opioid therapy is effective in alleviating acute postoperative pain. However, benefits of chronic opioid therapy (COT) is a contentious issue corollary to concerns relating to long-term drug dependence, tolerance and misuse. Patients with adult spinal deformities (ASD) undergoing complex, multilevel fusions often require optimized pain management strategies tailored upon disease progression and the extent of deformity correction. In alignment with a national focus on regulating lenient prescription practices, investigating epidemiological trends and risk factors associated with postoperative consumption in patients with ASD can be beneficial in understanding atypical opioid requirements, guiding practice surveillance, and implementing preventive strategies.
Source: The Spine Journal - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Source Type: research