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Importance Buprenorphine is a Schedule III analgesic that is recommended as the firstline long-acting opioid for the treatment of chronic pain due to its ceiling effect on respiratory depression, adverse effect profile, and analgesic efficacy. However, prescription drug coverage policies commonly require that patients try and fail multiple Schedule II conventional opioids before approval of on-label use of buprenorphine for chronic pain. Design A retrospective review was performed looking at coverage of buprenorphine in the forms of Butrans and Belbuca. Patient denial letters, web searches of insurance and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and an online tool (formularylookup.com) were used to assess the coverage and availability of buprenorphine for chronic pain. Results Unrestricted access to Butrans was reported for 42% of commercial lives and 11% of Medicare lives in all locations. Unrestricted access to Belbuca was reported for 53% of commercial lives and 23% of Medicare lives in all locations. Oxycodone immediate-release has unrestricted access for 84% of commercial plans and 97% of Medicare plans. Morphine extended-release has unrestricted access for 62% of commercial lives and 65% of Medicare lives. Conclusions and Relevance There are >17,000 prescription opioid–involved deaths each year in the United States. By substituting buprenorphine as the firstline treatment for chronic and even acute pain, there may be fewer prescribed conventional opioids in the United States. Schedule III buprenorphine formulations for chronic pain should be given unrestricted access for appropriate patients before considering a Schedule II opioid as a public health priority.

Expandable endoprostheses have become an acceptable modality to address the issue of limb-length inequality in limb-sparing procedures for skeletally immature patients afflicted with lower extremity bone sarcomas. This study retrospectively analyzed postoperative outcomes and complications for 7 patients (8 limbs) who underwent minimally invasive or noninvasive reconstruction during a 12-year period. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores and complication rates were reported. Mean functional outcome (MSTS scores) at final follow-up was 93.3%. Functional outcomes for the noninvasive and minimally invasive expandable prostheses were 97% and 85%, respectively. Complications included temporary peroneal nerve palsy (2 limbs), infection (2 limbs), prosthesis revision (3 limbs), stiffness (3 limbs), and wound healing problems (3 limbs). None of the patients required amputation. Both minimally and noninvasive expandable prostheses appear to be safe and reliable means of reconstruction that permit limb salvage in skeletally immature patients and provide good functional results considering the alternative is above-knee amputation or hip disarticulation. Although complications are frequent (range, 13%-38%), they often can be managed successfully without amputation, thus providing a good quality of life and functional limb. The noninvasive prosthesis may prove to be a more attractive option by potentially negating additional surgeries and reducing infection rates; however, the short-term experience with this prosthesis warrants further investigations with more patients and longer follow-up. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(1):e157-e163.].

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