Pain in the Post-Operative Week Predicts Pain and Hand Use Twelve Weeks after Proximal Phalangeal Fracture Fixation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Proximal phalangeal fractures are common hand injuries.
• Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a surgical treatment for these fractures.
• Predicting post-operative outcomes is crucial for effective rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify baseline characteristics that predict outcomes 12 weeks after ORIF of proximal phalangeal fractures.
• To assess the predictive value of early post-operative pain on functional recovery.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 48 patients undergoing ORIF for proximal phalangeal fractures were reviewed.
• Baseline data included finger injured, fracture type, hand dominance, and early post-operative pain.
• Outcomes measured at 12 weeks included range of motion, pain levels, strength, and hand use.
• Multivariate linear regression was used for prediction modeling.

Main Results:

• Early resting pain was a significant predictor of pain at rest and comprehensive pain at 12 weeks.
• Baseline resting pain also predicted reduced hand use at 12 weeks.
• Fracture characteristics (finger, intra/extra-articular, side) did not predict outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Moderate to high resting pain in the first post-operative week predicts poorer pain and hand use outcomes at 12 weeks.
• Early identification and targeted pain management interventions are recommended.
• Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy of early interventions.