title: Opioid pain medication use after dermatologic surgery: a prospective observational study of 212 dermatologic surgery patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To better understand postoperative opioid use after dermatologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic dermatology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 212 adults (1) who were undergoing a single skin excision (including Mohs micrographic surgery), (2) who consented to participate,and (3) who were able to be reached by telephone on postoperative day 3 or 4. Patients who did not meet these criteria and those referred to another physician for further surgical treatment or repair were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study examined(1) the incidence of opioid prescription after dermatologic surgery, (2) the percentage of prescribed opioid pain medications used in the postoperative period, and (3) patient and surgical characteristics associated with opioid pain medication prescription and use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Opioids were prescribed to 72 of the 212 patients(34%). Twenty-five of the 72 patients (35%) who were prescribed opioids did not use them. Forty-nine of 57 patients (86%) who filled an opioid prescription had leftover pills, and 26 of the 49 patients (53%) planned to keep them. Only maximum pain score was significantly associated with opioid use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opioids were over prescribed after dermatologic surgery. Patients who had left over opioids did not dispose of them properly, which could lead to potential misuse and abuse.
authors.affiliation: Saltzer Medical Group, Nampa, Idaho 83687, USA. kalynne.harris@yahoo.com
authors.forename: KaLynne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tristani-Firouzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid