Introduction. Deaths due to overdose involving opioids have nearly quadrupled in USA in the last 20 years. Several published studies have shown that preoperative opioid use independently predicts perioperative complications in total joint arthroplasty. Our objectives were to (1) assess preoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and (2) to determine how preoperative opioid use affects patient oriented outcomes (POO's) and hip scores before and after THA. Methods. 54 primary THA by a single surgeon were reviewed. A new patient questionnaire was administered to document preoperative opioid consumption (type, dosage and length of use); preoperatively and postoperatively POO's measurements [visual analog scale (VAS), QWB-7, SF-36, and WOMAC] and hip scores were recorded. Patients were stratified into two groups: (1) Opioid Users and (2) Non-Opioid Users. Oral morphine equivalents (OME) were calculated for opioid using patients using standard methodology. Results. 22.2% of the patients were using opioids prior to THA. Among these, 16.6% had tried more than 1 drug. Dosage was self-reported in 33.3% and length of usage only in 8.3%. Mean OME was 13.3mg (range: 6mg–32mg) among users. After adjusting for covariates (gender), opioid users reported worse significant outcomes before surgery for the SF-36 general health (69 vs 80.7; p=0.02), SF-36 role emotional (75.7 vs 99.1; p=0.002), and SF-36 mental health (64 vs 79.7; p=0.005). After surgery even though significant improvements were seen in both groups, opioid users reported significantly worse WOMAC pain scores (1.4 vs 0.3; p=0.03) than non-opioid users. Conclusions. Almost a quarter of the patients in our community undergoing THA, use opioid medications prior to surgery. Opioid users came to surgery with more pain and less function and had worse outcomes. Documentation on the use of opioids in self-administered questionnaire was poor at best. Quantification of OME may help the surgeons with a cutoff point for referral to detoxification before surgery. A significant effort needs to be made in order to measure and manage opioids prior to THA

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether total hip arthroplasty (THA) for chronic hip pain due to unilateral primary osteoarthritis (OA) has a beneficial effect on cognitive performance.

Aims

Due to the opioid epidemic in the USA, our service progressively decreased the number of opioid tablets prescribed at discharge after primary hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty. The goal of this study was to analyze the effect on total morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed and post-discharge opioid repeat prescriptions.