Prospective, Observational Study of Opioid Use After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Purpose: To provide estimates of postoperative opioid use after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome and to identify risk factors for increased postoperative opioid use. Methods: All patients aged at least 18 years who were undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome performed by 1 of 2 hip-preservation surgeons between November 2015 and August 2016 were eligible for inclusion in this study. Target minimum enrollment was set at 30 patients per surgeon based on an a priori sample size calculation. Enrolled patients completed the International Hip Outcome Tool, visual analog pain scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, abbreviated Patient Health Questionnaire, and questions regarding demographic characteristics and opioid and anti-inflammatory use. Opioid consumption was assessed through pill counting at 2- and 6-week postoperative appointments. Of 80 patients enrolled, 67 had complete 2- and 6-week opioid use data. Patient and operative factors were correlated with outcomes in multivariate models. Results: Opioid use in the 2 weeks before surgery was significantly associated with higher postoperative opioid use at 2 weeks postoperatively (253.8 additional oral morphine equivalents [OMEs]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 171.2-336.5 additional OMEs; P < .0001; n = 73) and 6 weeks postoperatively (385.3 additional OMEs; 95% CI, 241.6-529.0 additional OMEs; P < .0001; n = 67). By 6 weeks postoperatively, 41 of 52 patients (79%) without opioid use in the 2 weeks before surgery used 30 or fewer 5-mg oxycodone pills compared with only 2 of 15 patients (13%) with preoperative use (odds ratio, 24.9; 95% CI, 4.2-148.5; P < .0001). Conclusions: Among patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome, any opioid use in the 2 weeks preceding surgery was the strongest predictor of opioid use after hip arthroscopy. The impact of preoperative opioid use far exceeded the impact of other baseline patient and operative factors. Assessment of preoperative opioid use could be an important factor in guiding postoperative opioid prescribing.