The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons advises clinicians to avoid prescribing opioids to treat hip and knee osteoarthritis, using them only for exceptional circumstances.
Six insights from the position statement:
1. Opioids should not be used as a first-line treatment for either acute or chronic hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
2. When other non-opioid treatments have failed and patients cannot undergo joint replacement surgery, clinicians may consider opioid-use for a small subset of patients.
3. Patients who are prescribed opioids for nonoperative osteoarthritis treatment should receive education on the risks of prolonged opioid use, including addiction and dependency.
4. Physicians should prescribe the fewest number of opioids in the lowest does for the shortest possible time.
5. Providers should consider referring patients who require extended opioid-use to a pain management specialist.
6. Patients should receive education on the safe storage of opioid pain medications and proper disposal when prescriptions are no longer needed.