Opioid Administration Patterns following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Rotator Cuff Repair: A Multi-Center Analysis

Objectives Opioids are commonly administered following elective sports surgeries, contributing to the opioid epidemic. Understanding opioid administration patterns following commonly performed anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and rotator cuff repair (RCR) is important to avoid inadvertent overprescribing of these drugs. The purpose of this study was to characterize opioid administration trends following these surgeries across various healthcare institutions. Methods A 5-year retrospective study was performed utilizing patient data collected by Avalon.ai from 3 large health systems around the United States. The data was screened for patients undergoing ACLR and RCR between 2018 and 2022 (n=2,129). Patient records were screened for administration of opioids following operation defined as the average morphine millimeter equivalents (MME). Results The average MME for surgeries combined increased from 23 ± 11 in 2018 to 34 ± 24 in 2022 (P<.0001). ACLR has had a higher average MME than RCR in recent years, in addition to a significant variation in average MME for combined surgeries across institutions. Conclusion Opioid administration following ACLR and RCR increased annually over the study period with significant variation in average MME across healthcare institutions. Interventional efforts should continue to be made to reduce opioid prescriptions following these surgeries to mitigate long-term use and abuse.