19 Mar The Opioid Epidemic and Orthopaedic Pain Management
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Sommer Hammoud
Dr. Sommer Hammoud MD
ABOS Board Certified Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Thomas Jefferson University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The background for this exhibit stemmed from the growing problem of prescription opioid abuse in the United States. As we saw this issue developing, we aimed to investigate the history behind this epidemic, what information we have now to fight it, and what information we need in the future to improve care our patients.
Our main findings for each of those aims are the following:
1) It would appear that a large push at the end of the last century led to a lower threshold to prescribe opiates in the effort to control pain, leading to the current opioid epidemic
2) Mulitmodal methods of pain control and the expanding skill of regional anesthesia can be used to help decrease narcotic use and thus limit exposure to narcotics, and
3) Future research needs to focus on the psychologic aspect of patients’ ability to manage pain and we should strive to be able to categorize patients in order to create an individualized pain management protocol which will most effectively manage pain.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Operations performed in orthopaedic surgery are certainly painful operations and controlling patients’ pain is important to produce good outcomes. Being knowledgable about and having access to non-narcotic pain management strategies is important to limit exposure to narcotic medications. Considering each patients psychological response to pain is important in helping them cope and manage with post-operative pain.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: More research needs to focus on the psychologic response to pain control. How do certain patients respond to pain and what aspect of their medical or social history contribute to their pain response mechanism?
Answering these types of questions may help to produce pain management protocols, which more effectively manage patients’ pain.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: We have no financial relationships to disclose in relation to the material presented in this scientific exhibit.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
The Opioid Epidemic and Orthopaedic Pain Management Christopher M. Aland, MD, Newtown, PA Luke S. Austin, MD, Haddonfield, N Christopher J. Ball, BS, Simi Valley, CA Daniel E. Davis, MD, Wilmington, DE Sommer Hammoud, MD, Philadelphia, PA Asif M. Ilyas, MD, Wayne, PA Surena Namdari, MD, Philadelphia, PA The abuse of opioids has reached epidemic levels in the United States. This exhibit review literature and new research on the appropriate use of opiates and pain management in orthopaedics
Abstract presented at the 2017 AAOS meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. PT.
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on March 19, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD