Persistent pain is common 1 year after ankle and wrist fracture surgery: a register-based questionnaire study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Medicine
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Persistent postsurgical pain is a known complication of common surgical procedures.
• Fracture-related surgery carries a risk of developing neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of persistent postsurgical pain 1 year after ankle or wrist fracture surgery.
• To assess the incidence of neuropathic pain symptoms and CRPS following fracture surgery.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of patients undergoing primary surgery for ankle or wrist fractures was identified from the Danish Fracture Database.
• A questionnaire was administered 1 year post-surgery to collect data on pain characteristics.

Main Results:

• 18.9% of patients reported persistent postsurgical pain significantly impacting daily activities.
• 42.8% experienced symptoms suggestive of neuropathic pain.
• 4.0% met diagnostic criteria for CRPS.

Conclusions:

• Persistent postsurgical pain is frequent one year after wrist and ankle fracture surgery.
• A significant proportion of patients develop neuropathic pain symptoms and CRPS.
• Informing patients about the risk of persistent pain and further research into risk factors are recommended.