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Opioid Prescribing After Facial Plastic Procedures - Pattern Analysis

Rudy SF, Joseph SS, Xie Y, et al.
Dermatologic Surgery (2023)

JC: May 2023

This study analyzed patterns of opioid prescribing following facial plastic and reconstructive procedures. The findings revealed frequent over-prescribing relative to patient needs, with many patients using significantly fewer opioids than prescribed, supporting efforts to limit postoperative opioid prescriptions.

Take-Home Messages

  • •Opioid prescriptions after facial procedures frequently exceed patient consumption, contributing to excess opioid availability.
  • •Mohs and reconstructive surgeons should adopt evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines to reduce unnecessary prescriptions.

Topic

Anesthesia & Pain

Local anesthesia, pain management, nerve blocks

Abstract

Background: The Michigan Opioid Laws are legislation enacted between 2017 and 2018 as a strategy to combat the growing opioid crisis. Objective: To compare opioid prescription rates and morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) of opioid prescribed to patients undergoing various facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS) procedures before, during, and after legislation enactment. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional retrospective review of subjects undergoing any of 10 FPRS proc...

Literature review only. This summary is an editorial interpretation and may not reflect the complete findings of the original publication. Always refer to the full-text article for clinical decision-making.