Orthopaedic surgeons account for the largest proportion of opioid prescriptions in the United States among surgical specialties.In total joint arthroplasty, increased opioid use has been associated with poorer clinical and functional outcomes.Despite an abundance RELAX TEA of literature on opioid mitigation strategies, most fail to provide personalized prescriptions.Typically, most protocols prescribe the same opioid regimen regardless of patient factors or the extent of the planned procedure.
We present a simple opioid stratification pathway that Backpacks can be used by physicians and office staff as they prepare patients for arthroplasty.We have found this to be easy to implement, effective, and sustainable at a tertiary academic institution and allows for iterative improvements over time.