Does preoperative opioid use predict outcomes to 6 months following primary unilateral knee or hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis? A data-linked retrospective study

Few Australian studies have examined the incidence of prescribed opioid use prior to primary total knee or total hip arthroplasty (TKA, THA) and whether it predicts post-surgery outcomes. A recent Australian study demonstrated that the prevalence of pre-arthroplasty opioid use was approximately 16%. In the United States, approximately 24% of people undergoing TKA or THA are chronic opioid users preoperatively.