UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Buprenorphine and rib fractures in older patients

Category: Trauma

Keywords: Rib fractures, geriatric, pain control (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/28/2026 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 5/3/2026)
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A retrospective study looking at use of transdermal Buprenorphine in older trauma patients with rib fractures found a good safety profile (less naloxone use) and less overall opioid use however no change in overall length of stay or mortality. Adding this to your multimodal pain strategy in older patients with rib fractures seems like a reasonable plan.

References

ournal of the American Geriatrics SocietyEarly View

CLINICAL INVESTIGATION

Transdermal  Buprenorphine For  Pain Management in Older Patients With Multiple Rib Fractures

Iva NeupaneBrian MikolaskoCharles A. Adams JrJoao Filipe Goncalves MonteiroNadia MujahidLinda GirouardJessica ArabiAshna RajanAudrea BoseStephanie LueckelLynn McNicollStefan Gravenstein

First published: 16 April 2026

https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70444