Huge Congratulations to Wiser Healthcare researchers Chris Maher, Andrew McLachlan and their colleagues Christine Lin, Caitlin Jones, Jane Latimer, Hanan McLachlan, Melissa Webb, Melanie Hamilton, Michelle Blowes and Laurie Guthrie who received the University of Sydney Vice Chancellors Award for Research Excellence for their OPAL Trial!
Opioids are the most common treatment for acute spinal pain; despite known harms and lack of RCT evidence on efficacy. The OPAL trial (triple-blinded placebo-controlled) showed that an opioid regimen (oxycodone/naloxone up to 10mg bd up to 6 weeks) was ineffective for acute spinal pain. For several outcomes the results favoured placebo. When implemented the OPAL results could save countless lives globally.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00404-X/fulltext