The study observed opiate use three months prior to injury and six months post-injury in a group of 613 patients with isolated musculoskeletal injuries.
The study found:
• 15.5 percent of patients used a prescription for opiates three months before the occurrence of injury, compared with 9.2 percent of the general population
• 12.2 percent of the patients filled more than one prescription for opiates three months before injury, compared with 6.4 percent of the general population
• 68.4 percent of patients filled opiate prescriptions for less than six weeks postoperatively
• 11.9 percent of patients filled prescriptions for six to 12 weeks
• 19.7 percent filled prescriptions for more than 12 weeks
• Advancing age is a risk of prolonged opiate use
• Amount of pre-injury use is a risk factor of prolonged opiate use
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