Conference Coverage

Suzetrigine Adoption Linked to Lower Opioid Prescribing After TKA

Ashton L. Stahl

Key Highlights

  • More patients receiving suzetrigine were discharged without an opioid prescription in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
  • During 30-day follow-up, 70% of the suzetrigine cohort never filled an opioid prescription.
  • Mean morphine milligram equivalents were consistently lower with suzetrigine across both settings.

Suzetrigine (SUZ) use as part of multimodal postoperative pain management was associated with more patients being discharged without an opioid prescription and lower opioid exposure after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), according to an abstract presented at the 2026 American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Annual Meeting in Dallas.

The researchers evaluated adults undergoing primary, unilateral TKA in a retrospective, observational cohort study using a de-identified dataset linking Ochsner Health electronic health records with administrative claims. Hospital discharge served as the index date, and patients needed 6 months of baseline data and at least 30 days of follow-up. Ochsner Health used a meds-to-beds program to fill discharge prescriptions.

The suzetrigine cohort received standard postoperative pain medications, including suzetrigine, after the discharge protocol incorporated it from April 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Historical controls received standard care without suzetrigine from January 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. Patients were stratified as outpatient (length of stay 23 hours or less) or inpatient (stay exceeding 23 hours). The study was exempt from institutional review board review.

Study Findings

The analysis included 106 patients in the suzetrigine cohort and 1,487 historical controls. Among outpatients, 62% of those receiving suzetrigine were discharged without an opioid prescription, compared with 21.1% of controls. Among inpatients, the corresponding proportions were 51.8% and 26.5%.

During 30-day follow-up, 70% of patients in the suzetrigine cohort never filled an opioid prescription. Mean morphine milligram equivalents were consistently lower in that cohort across both care settings.

Clinical Implications

According to the study authors, incorporating suzetrigine into multimodal postoperative pain management was associated in both inpatient and outpatient settings with fewer opioid fills through 30 days and lower opioid exposure among patients undergoing TKA.

Expert Commentary

“Incorporation of SUZ into multimodal postoperative pain management was associated with higher rates of discharge without an opioid prescription, fewer opioid fills through 30 days, and lower opioid exposure among patients undergoing TKA in both inpatient and outpatient settings,” the researchers concluded.

Reference

Menzie AM, Mehta J, Pokharel K, Villemarette-Pittman NR, Sharma S, Dasa V. Evaluating the impact of suzetrigine on opioid prescribing patterns in total knee arthroplasty. Paper #14. Abstract presented at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting, November 5–8, 2026, Dallas, TX.