Objective:

To evaluate the trends in amputation rates among opioid-related hospitalizations compared to nonopioid-related hospitalizations from 2016 to 2022.

Key Findings:

• Amputation rates among opioid-related hospitalizations increased from 56 to 92 per 10,000 hospitalizations from 2016 to 2022.
• Nonopioid-related hospitalizations saw an increase from 59 to 80 per 10,000 hospitalizations.
• Amputations occurred in fewer than 1% of opioid-related hospitalizations in 2022.
• The increase in amputation rates was 13 additional amputations per 10,000 hospitalizations greater for opioid-related cases.
• Opioid-related hospitalizations had a higher proportion of upper-extremity amputations and higher anatomical level amputations.

Interpretation:

The study indicates a concerning trend of rising amputation rates among opioid-related hospitalizations, potentially linked to factors such as increased injection frequency and infections.

Limitations:

• Serial cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
• Use of administrative coding may introduce inaccuracies.
• Inability to directly link opioid use to amputation outcomes.
• Potential residual confounding from unmeasured clinical or behavioral risk factors.

Conclusion:

Amputation rates have increased more significantly among opioid-related hospitalizations compared to nonopioid-related ones, particularly in certain regions.