[Neglect-like symptoms after operations on the upper extremities].

Area of Science:

• Pain Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Surgical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Neglect-like symptoms (NLS) involve perceiving a limb as foreign, observed in chronic pain and post-knee replacement.
• NLS may impact patients undergoing upper extremity surgery, influencing pain and psychosocial well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in pain intensity and psychosocial variables between patients with and without NLS after upper extremity surgery.
• To determine the association between NLS and chronic postoperative pain (CPSP).

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 241 patients was assessed using validated questionnaires preoperatively and at 1 day, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively.
• Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance levels adjusted for multiple comparisons.

Main Results:

• Patients with NLS consistently reported significantly higher maximum pain scores, pain impairment, anxiety, depression, and kinesiophobia throughout the study period.
• Preoperatively, NLS patients reported more stressful life events and higher stress levels.
• NLS were significantly more prevalent in patients with CPSP (74%) compared to those without clinically relevant pain (17.5%).

Conclusions:

• NLS occurrence correlates with elevated pain, greater pain-related impairment, and increased psychosocial burden.
• NLS are more frequent in patients who develop CPSP.
• Further research is required to ascertain if NLS are an independent risk factor for pain chronification or play a role in pain pathogenesis.