Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40244504›Full record

ArticleArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2025

Prevalence and risk of chronic opioid use in orthopaedic polytrauma patients.

Michael E Held, Alex G Otwell, Steven M Cherney, Jeffery B Stambough, Stephen M Bowman, Simon C Mears

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Michael E HeldDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
Alex G OtwellDepartment of General Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 722205, USA.
Steven M CherneyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
Jeffery B StamboughDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA. scmears@uams.edu.
Stephen M BowmanDepartment of General Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 722205, USA.
Simon C MearsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32607, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionProlonged opioid usage has numerous side effects, contributing to poorer long-term outcomes. An unexplored area pertains to patient-specific factors that influence chronic opioid consumption in cases of multiple fractures. We aimed to assess the prevalence and identify risk factors for chronic opioid usage in orthopedic polytrauma patients. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe retrospectively identified 167 patients who sustained multiple lower extremity fractures occurring at a level-one trauma between July 2017 and June 2020. Utilizing the state prescription monitoring database, we gathered opioid prescription data for 3 months before and one year following the surgical procedure.

resultsIn total, 68 patients (41%) exhibited chronic opioid use after trauma. Of the 167 patients, 38 (22.7%) engaged in pre-admission opioid usage, of which 28 patients (73.7%) displayed chronic usage after discharge. Pre-admission opioid use (odds ratio 9.02, P = < 0.001) and an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 15 (odds ratio 3.62, P = 0.007) increased the odds of chronic usage compared to those without these risk factors. The chronic use group had significantly more surgeries performed on average (mean 4 vs. 2.9; P = 0.015) and a higher frequency of open fractures (P = 0.017). Polytrauma patients that obtained greater amounts of Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs) before, during, and after admission, were statistically more likely to become chronic opioid users.

conclusionsChronic opioid use is common after polytrauma. Polytrauma patients with pre-admission opioid use, a higher ISS, and escalated opioid requirements during hospitalization should be closely monitored for long-term opioid use. Sustained endeavors to mitigate opioid consumption and enhance non-opioid approaches are essential in preventing long-term challenges secondary to chronic opioid usage in polytrauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level 2 Retrospective Cohort.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidFractures, BoneMultiple TraumaOpioid-Related DisordersAdultAgedFemaleHumansInjury Severity ScoreMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsAnalgesics, OpioidChronic painFractureOpioid usePolytrauma

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.