New Persistent Opioid Use Following Common Forefoot Procedures for Treatment of Hallux Valgus

Abstract

Category: Bunion Introduction/Purpose: Chronic opioid use and abuse is one of the greatest public health challenges in the United States and continues to worsen. Orthopaedic surgeons stand at #4 on the list of top prescribers of opioid analgesics by specialty and are squarely positioned to have an impact on the problem. A recent study revealed an 8% prevalence of new persistent opioid usage following abdominal surgery. At present, the incidence of persistent opioid use after foot and ankle surgery is largely unknown. Operative bunion correction is one of the most commonly performed elective foot and ankle surgeries in this country. We sought to determine the incidence of new persistent opioid use following surgical treatment of hallux valgus and to identify patient factors associated with persistent opioid use. Methods: A nationwide insurance claims data set from January 2010 to June 2015 was used to identify opioid naive patients (defined as patients with no prior opioid use 12 months prior to injury) who underwent surgical treatment of hallux valgus with either a proximal or distal first metatarsal osteotomy. The incidence of new persistent opioid use, defined by opioid prescription fulfillment between 90 and 180 days after surgery was then calculated. Data were assessed for patient factors which may be predictors of new persistent opioid use including surgery type, health insurance type, age, gender, household income, and comorbidities. Results: A total of 38,312 patients underwent surgical treatment of hallux valgus with either a distal or proximal first metatarsal osteotomy and filled a perioperative opioid prescription. The rate of new persistent opioid use among all patients was 5.6%. The majority of patients (90%) underwent treatment with a distal metatarsal osteotomy. Patients who underwent treatment with a proximal metatarsal osteotomy were more likely to have new persistent opioid use (aOR: 1.16; p=0.04). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patient factors independently associated with new persistent opioid use included depression, anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, and certain preoperative pain disorders. Age, gender, and income were not associated with new persistent opioid use. Conclusion: Despite rising national attention, opioid abuse continues to be a growing epidemic. In order for foot and ankle surgeons to help solve this problem, it must first be better defined. New persistent opioid use following surgical treatment of hallux valgus affects a substantial, growing number of patients. Fifty percent of patients using opioids for 3 months will be using them at 5 years. Understanding patient factors associated with persistent opioid use can help clinicians identify and counsel at-risk patients and ultimately focus strategies and interventions aimed at mitigating and eliminating this massive public health problem.