The Effect of Preoperative Tramadol Use on Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions After Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: An Institutional Experience of 11,000 Patients.

Background: Preoperative opioid use increases opioid consumption postoperatively, but the effect of tramadol is poorly understood.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 11,667 patients undergoing primary unilateral THA and TKA at a single institution. Preoperatively, there were 8,201 opioid-naïve patients (70.3%), 1,315 on tramadol (11.3%), 1,408 on narcotics (12.1%) and 743 on narcotics and tramadol (6.3%). We compared morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) used during hospitalization, prescribed at discharge, and refilled during the first 90 days. We used multivariate analysis to assess whether preoperative tramadol use was associated with increased number of refills and total refilled MMEs.

Results: Total in-hospital MMEs and daily MMEs was lowest for the opioid naïve patients and significantly increased for the remaining three groups (total in-hospital use: 119, 152, 211, and 196 MMEs, respectively-P < .001) (daily in-hospital use: 66, 74, 100, and 86 MMEs, respectively-P < .001). Opioid refill rate was significantly higher for all patients who were not opioid naïve (32%, 42%, 41%, and 52%, respectively-P < .001). Total MMEs prescribed after discharge was lowest for opioid naïve patients (477, 528, 590 and 658, respectively-P < .001). Logistic and linear regression controlling for age, sex, history of anxiety/depression revealed that THA patients taking tramadol preoperatively were 2.5 times more likely to require post-discharge refills and refilled 80 additional MMEs than opioid naïve patients (P < .001).

Conclusion: Tramadol is not recommended for pain beforeTKA or THA, and surgeons and patients should be aware that it is associated with a substantial increase in postoperative opioid use.