A case report of satisfactory post-left knee replacement pain control after switching from oxycodone to buprenorphine

Shuo Qiu, MD; Sachinder Vasudeva, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2021.0656

Authors

Shuo Qiu, MD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5774-8843
Sachinder Vasudeva, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2021.0656

Keywords:

acute pain, buprenorphine, opioid use disorder, post-operative

Abstract

This case report demonstrates using buprenorphine 32 mg to achieve adequate pain control after a total knee replacement. The patient stopped buprenorphine 48 hours before surgery. He was prescribed 150 tablets of oxycodone 5 mg. After finishing oxycodone, he experienced significant pain that was relieved by 32 mg of buprenorphine daily. Urine drug screens were negative perioperatively. Patients with opioid use disorder require careful discharge planning to avoid opioid relapses or misuses of pain medications. Buprenorphine offers many unique advantages in acute pain control, including lower risk of respiratory depression, abuse potential, and lower risk of nephrotoxicity.

Author Biographies

Shuo Qiu, MD

Resident Physician, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia

Sachinder Vasudeva, MD

Staff Psychiatrist, Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, Virginia

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