Minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion is associated with increased opioid usage, according to a study published in the June 15 edition of Spine.
Researchers used an insurance claims database to evaluate 4,666 patients who had minimally invasive SI joint fusion. They found patients tended to fill opioid prescriptions one year postoperatively at a higher rate than those who had other common spine procedures. Chronic users filled the highest opiate dosages in the 30-days after surgery.
The study concluded that "opioid naïve patients use fewer opioids and for a shorter period of time compared to patients with sporadic or chronic preoperative opioid use. MIS SIJF may result in less effective pain reduction when compared to other common spine surgeries evaluated via identical methodology."