Stakeholder Insight: Orthopedic Postoperative Pain - Old Habits Hurt Market Potential

Introduction

Postoperative pain can be caused by many different surgical procedures, each involving a variety of complications and physician specialties. Pain is a subjective experience for patients and it would seem that prescribing is driven by physicians' subjective preferences. Patients frequently have to suffer with their pain and request treatment before medication is initiated.

Scope

Current and future treatment regimens for post-operative pain following orthopedic surgery, based on a survey of 180 surgeons and anesthetists

Clarification of the nature of orthopedic postoperative pain and how it is managed including therapies used, prevalence rates and comorbidity factors

Identification of the types of healthcare professional involved in the treatment of postoperative pain, and their adherence to treatment guidelines

Review of current awareness among prescribers of drug therapies in the postoperative pain pipeline, with recommendations for promoting greater use

Highlights

No consistent trend is seen in therapy choice either across or sometimes even within countries. Although international guidelines exist, there seems to be little implementation. To help to secure a strong position, manufacturers will need to build the profile of existing guidelines with prescribers in addition to promoting their treatments.

Prescription of opioids in mild to moderate orthopedic postoperative pain may be restricted by the physician's perception of opioids as being less well tolerated and by the patient and prescriber's concern over the potential for abuse. To dispel these concerns companies need to ensure that safety is communicated alongside improved efficacy.

It is not currently standard practice within the market to prophylactically prescribe analgesia for the prevention of postoperative pain. Working with international opinion leaders and pain management groups for adoption of such an approach will both enhance the market potential and improve patients' recovery.

Reasons to Purchase

Identify the roles that surgeons, anesthetists and other physicians play in managing postoperative pain

Understand the dominance that NSAIDs and other non-opioid analgesics have in mild and moderate postoperative pain

Identify suitable positioning for pipeline drugs against current opioid market leaders in severe postoperative pain

December 2005

Format: PDF

Pages: 148
Table of Contents
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