Overprescribing and Undereducating: a Survey of Pre- and Postoperative Pain Protocols for Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

PURPOSE: To establish a better understanding of the variations in pain management protocols and prescribing patterns for pediatric patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction or repair. METHODS: A 20-question multiple-choice survey was distributed to 3 professional orthopaedic societies to assess the pre-emptive and postoperative pain management prescribing patterns for pediatric patients undergoing ACL reconstruction or repair. Clinical agreement (defined as agreement between >80% of participants) and general agreement (defined as agreement between >60% of participants) were calculated based on responses as previously reported. RESULTS: Clinical agreement was observed among the 68 respondents in use of a single shot nerve block before induction of anesthesia versus continuous use when a peripheral nerve block was used, “always” counseling patients on postoperative pain control, the prescribing of opioids postoperatively, and a lack of change in postoperative protocol when concomitant meniscal repair or meniscectomy was performed. General agreement was observed in the use of a peripheral nerve block, some pre-emptive analgesia practices, and the lack of counseling patients with regard to disposal of unused opioid pain medication postoperatively. Opioids were prescribed by 88% of participants postoperatively, with 48% prescribing 11 to 19 pills and 15% prescribing ≥20 pills. CONCLUSIONS: While pain management practices before and following ACL reconstruction and repair in the pediatric population remain varied, opioids are frequently prescribed postoperatively with many providers neglecting to provide instruction on excess opioid disposal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ACL reconstruction and repair is becoming increasingly common in the pediatric population. Clinical guidelines that establish pre-emptive and postoperative pain-control protocols should be considered to determine safe and optimal pain control throughout the duration of care while minimizing opioid prescribing and consumption.