Innovative Pain Assessment Score Combining Objective and Subjective Measures Leads to Reduced Opioid Use Following Elective Spine Surgery: A Prospective Pilot Investigation

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Opioid-related deaths in the U.S. exceeded 42,000 in 2016, highlighting the need for improved pain management strategies in spine surgery.
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Current postoperative pain management often relies on subjective pain reports, leading to overprescription of opioids and increased risk of dependence.
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The study introduces the Objective-Subjective (OBSUB) Pain Assessment tool to better tailor opioid prescriptions and reduce long-term opioid use.
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Data from 44 patients were analyzed to assess pain scores, opioid consumption, and patient satisfaction before and after implementing the OBSUB protocol.
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The OBSUB scale combines subjective pain experiences with objective clinical signs, aiming to enhance pain assessment and improve patient outcomes.

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