2017 ISAKOS Congress : Does patient education prior to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair decrease narcotic consumption? A randomized prospective study

44 patients scheduled for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomized to receive a preoperative education program on narcotic use or to no additional education program. Patients were assessed for narcotic consumption and pain scores over the first 6 weeks after surgery. results demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the mean number of narcotic pills taken, however, a significantly lower rate of patients in the education group who consumed more than 20 narcotic pills postoperatively was observed.