No signs of dose escalations of potent opioids prescribed after tibial shaft fractures: a study of Swedish National Registries

Background The pattern of opioid use after skeletal trauma is a neglected topic in pain medicine. The purpose of this study was to analyse the long-term prescriptions of potent opioids among patients with tibial shaft fractures. Methods Data were extracted from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge Register, the National Pharmacy Register, and the Total Population Register, and analysed accordingly. The study period was 2005–2008. Results We identified 2,571 patients with isolated tibial shaft fractures. Of these, 639 (25%) collected a prescription for opioids after the fracture. The median follow-up time was 17 (interquartile range [IQR] 7–27) months. Most patients with opioid prescriptions after fracture were male (61%) and the median age was 45 (16–97) years. The leading mechanism of injury was fall on the same level (41%). At 6 and 12 months after fracture, 21% (95% CI 17–24) and 14% (11–17) were still being treated with opioids. Multiple Cox regression-analysis (adjusted for age, sex, type of treatment, and mechanism of injury) revealed that older patients (age >50 years) were more likely to end opioid prescriptions (Hazard ratio 1.5 [95% CI 1.3-1.9]). During follow-up, the frequency of patients on moderate and high doses declined. Comparison of the daily morphine equivalent dose among individuals who both had prescriptions during the first 3 months and the 6th month indicated that the majority of these patients (11/14) did not have dose escalations. Conclusions We did not see any signs in registry-data of major dose escalations over time in patients on potent opioids after tibial shaft fractures.