Patients with pilon or bicondylar tibial plateau fractures are prescribed more opiates compared to patients with other isolated fractures, according to a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
Four things to know:
1. Of 341 patients with isolated lower extremity fractures, 47 percent were prescribed opiates before their injury.
2. Orthopedic providers prescribed more opiates to patients with pilon fractures compared with unicondylar, tibial shaft and ankle fractures.
3. Bicondylar plateau fracture patients received more opiates compared with unicondylar, tibial shaft and ankle fractures.
4. Non-orthopedic providers prescribed more opiates to pilon fracture patients compared with other isolated fracture patients.