AANS and CNS Comment on Updated CDC Opioid Guidelines

On April 4, the AANS and the CNS submitted comments to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding its updated draft Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids. The letter notes that while the document addresses many of the misinterpretations of the 2016 version and devotes significant discussion regarding nonpharmacologic treatments for pain as alternatives to opioid therapy, the new guideline fails to adequately explore surgical treatment options to reduce or eliminate opioid use. The groups recommended adding decompressive (spinal, peripheral nerve, cranial nerve), reconstructive, ablative and neuromodulatory options for treating pain in the guideline as additional pain management strategy options.

Click here to read the comments.