POSNA: Opioid Epidemic Has Reached Pediatric Patients, Too

Many pediatric surgical patients are prescribed opioids for pain management, indicating that children and adolescents, too, are affected by the opioid epidemic, according to a recent report from the Advocacy Committee of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA).

The report was issued following a literature review of historical perspective, current status, and pertinent strategies for addressing the growing opioid epidemic in the United States.
______________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Persistent Opioid Use After Surgery Among Adolescents
AAP and POSNA: New Orthopedic Practice Considerations
______________________________________________________________________

Data was obtained from an electronic survey of 264 POSNA members in regard to the treatments they would prescribe for 7 different scenarios. Survey results indicated that hydrocodone, oxycodone, and acetaminophen with codeine were the most commonly used opioid medications in most of the scenarios.

Notably, three quarters of respondents indicated that they made pain management decisions for their patients in lieu of consulting a pain specialist, and that medication decisions were based primarily on anecdotal experience rather than on currently available evidence or guidelines.

“The magnitude of this problem is overwhelming,” the researchers concluded. “Education of care providers, patients and families, standardization of narcotic prescribing practices which incorporate patient characteristics, and appropriate plans for disposal of unused narcotics are immediate concepts to consider in correcting this problem.”

“Long-term issues to tackle will be changing patient [and] family expectations, legislation, and obtaining additional resources directed towards this issue,” they added.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Raney EM, van Bosse HJP, Shea KG, Abzug JM, Schwend RM. Current state of the opioid epidemic as it pertains to pediatric orthopedics from the Advocacy Committee of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America [Published online February 27, 2018]. J Pediatr Orthop. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000001143.