The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American). 2009;91:919-927.
doi:10.2106/JBJS.H.00286
© 2009 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.
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Higher Opioid Doses Predict Poorer Functional Outcome in Patients with Chronic Disabling Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders

Cindy L. Kidner, PhD1, Tom G. Mayer, MD2 and Robert J. Gatchel, PhD, ABPP3

1 PRIDE Research Foundation, 5701 Maple Avenue #100, Dallas, TX 75235
2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75235. E-mail address: tgmayer{at}pridedallas.com
3 Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, 313 Life Science Building, 501 South Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019

Investigation performed at PRIDE Research Foundation, Dallas, Texas

Disclosure: In support of their research for or preparation of this work, one or more of the authors received, in any one year, outside funding or grants in excess of $10,000 from the National Institutes of Health (grants 3R01 MH 046452 and 1 K05 071392). Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, division, center, clinical practice, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors, or a member of their immediate families, are affiliated or associated.

Background: Opioids are frequently used for the postoperative treatment of chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders. In many such cases, long-term opioid use persists because of patient requests for ongoing pain relief. Little is known about the relationship between chronic opioid use and functional recovery in these patients.

Methods: A total of 1226 patients with a chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorder were consecutively admitted into an interdisciplinary functional restoration program. They were divided into two groups: 630 patients who reported no opioid use at the time of admission (No group) and 596 patients who reported some opioid use at the time of admission (Yes group). The 516 patients for whom daily opioid doses could be determined were further divided into four subgroups: Low (<30 mg, n = 267), Medium (31 to 60 mg, n = 112), High (61 to 120 mg, n = 78), and Very High (>120 mg, n = 59). During the initial weeks of treatment, patients consented to be weaned from all opioid medications. In addition, the patients were assessed before and after rehabilitation with regard to self-reported measures of pain, function, and depression and were analyzed for change. One year after the termination of treatment, socioeconomic outcomes were assessed to measure work and financial status, healthcare utilization, and recurrent injury-associated pain.

Results: A higher post-injury opioid dose was associated with a greater risk of program noncompletion, which was anticipated because of the requirement that patients taper opioids. High opioid use was significantly related to important socioeconomic outcomes, such as lower rates of return to work and work retention as well as higher healthcare utilization (p ≤ 0.05 for all). Moreover, at one year after treatment, the group reporting the highest opioid use was 11.6 times as likely to be receiving Social Security Disability Income/Supplemental Security Income as compared with the group reporting no opioid use at the time of admission into the program.

Conclusions: Chronic opioid use beginning after a work-related injury is a predictor of less successful outcomes for patients whose final treatment intervention is an interdisciplinary functional restoration program. Higher dose levels are associated with progressively greater indemnity and medical costs for ongoing disability. Physicians involved in the treatment of chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders should be aware of problems associated with permitting long-term opioid use in patients with a disabling occupational disorder.

Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.


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