Pain Trajectory After Ankle Surgeries for Osteoarthritis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Osteoarthritis Research

Background:

• Ankle surgery for osteoarthritis can lead to significant pain trajectories.
• Understanding postoperative pain is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the pain trajectory following ankle surgery for osteoarthritis.
• To identify perioperative factors predicting postoperative pain development.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 49 patients followed for 18 months.
• Evaluated preoperative pain (duration, severity, type), psychological distress, opioid use, and surgery type.
• Modeled acute pain using a trajectory and analyzed predictors of acute and chronic pain.

Main Results:

• 87% had preoperative chronic pain; 34% experienced high postoperative pain.
• High acute pain trajectory linked to higher preoperative opioid use, neuropathic pain, pain scores, and psychological distress.
• Chronic pain associated with higher pain scores, psychological distress, and preoperative pain intensity.

Conclusions:

• Psychological distress and severe preoperative pain are key risk factors for acute and chronic pain post-ankle surgery.
• These predictors are independent of the specific surgical intervention used.