Preoperative opioid prescription filling increased the risk for postoperative opioid prescription refills in patients who underwent cartilage restoration procedures of the knee, according to recently published results.

Researchers used the Humana administrative claims database to identify 133 patients who underwent osteochondral autograft transplant and 167 patients who underwent osteochondral allograft transplant of the knee. Investigators categorized patients by age, diagnosis of low-back pain, preoperative opioid use, autograft and allograft procedures, and open and arthroscopic procedures. Patients who filled an opioid prescription within 3 months before surgery were considered preoperative opioid users. Monthly for 12 months, relative risk for opioid prescription fills was calculated. Odds ratios at 3, 6 and 12 months were determined with multivariate logistic regression.