J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2025 Nov 12;9(11). doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00319. eCollection 2025 Nov 1.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgery, following which pain control medications are often prescribed. In recent years, efforts have been made to minimize opioids and other nonnarcotic medications as multimodal regimens evolve following such surgeries.
METHODS: Opioid-naïve ACL reconstruction patients were identified from the PearlDiver M165Ortho data set. Those with a history of substance abuse were excluded. Prescriptions of pain management medications were evaluated in the 90 days following surgery per 1000 ACL reconstructions and grouped into the following categories: opioids, benzodiazepines, NSAIDs, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor/tricyclic antidepressant/antiepileptic, tramadol, gabapentinoid, and nonbenzodiazepine muscle relaxant.Trends for annual prescriptions and morphine milligram equivalents were defined. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine factors independently associated with narcotic prescriptions.
RESULTS: A total of 101,331 ACL reconstruction patients met study inclusion criteria. In the 90 days following surgery, opioid prescriptions decreased from 402.7 per 1,000 ACL reconstructions in 2010 to 153.5 in 2021 (-61.9%). Prescriptions of other pain management drugs on aggregate decreased from 298.0 in 2010 to 129.8 in 2021 (-56.4%). Among patients who received opioids in the 90 days postoperatively, morphine milligram equivalents prescribed per 1000 ACL reconstructions decreased from 277,941 in 2010 to 39,640 in 2021 (-85.7%).On multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of postoperative opioid prescriptions were younger age (odds ratio [OR] 1.30 per decade decrease, P < 0.0001), male sex (relative to female, OR 1.39, P < 0.0001), patient comorbidity (per two-point decrease in Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, OR 1.25, P < 0.0001), and region of the country where surgery was performed (relative to west, Northeast OR 1.20, South OR 1.22, Midwest OR 1.41, P = 0.0006, P = 0.0026, P = 0.0002, respectively). Neither having the use of regional nerve blocks nor having multiple concomittent knee procedures affected postoperative opioid prescriptions.
CONCLUSION: Fewer prescriptions of both narcotic and nonnarcotic medications following ACL reconstruction had been written over the years from 2010 to 2021, likely in favor of nonprescription over-the-counter analgesics including NSAIDs and acetaminophen. There may be opportunities to further reduce opioid prescribing following ACL reconstruction, particularly among patients receiving regional nerve blocks or those undergoing isolated ACL reconstruction.
PMID:41237369 | DOI:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00319
