Use of preoperative opioids increases duration of hospital stay following elective lower limb arthroplasty. - A snapshot of UK practice.

This study is one of the first in the UK where to assess the link between pre-operative opioid use and length of stay or complications. The primary objective was to test our hypothesis; that low dose pre-operative opioids will not lead to an increase in complications and LOS in lower limb arthroplasty patients. 640 records were found and 625 patients were included whom received elective primary or revision surgery. It was found that Pre-operative opioids >12 MED does increase LOS.