Editorial Commentary: Opioids After Orthopaedic Surgery: Who Needs 'Em?

Abstract

Multimodal analgesia protocols have been developed to reduce the number of opioids prescribed after orthopaedic surgery, although no previous studies have examined the effectiveness of a nonopioid multimodal analgesia protocol following common sports medicine procedures. Clinicians should feel assured that this type of strategy can be effective at reducing pain and the number of opioids needed for breakthrough pain with minimal side effects and without compromising patient satisfaction. The use of rescue opioids is associated with pain level, procedure type, and psychiatric illness.