High Pain Catastrophizing Scale Predicts Lower Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in the Foot and Ankle Patient

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Psychological Factors in Health Outcomes

Background:

• Patient preoperative morbidity can influence postoperative outcomes.
• Pain catastrophization, a negative cognitive-affective response to pain, is hypothesized to impact outcomes after foot and ankle surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between preoperative pain catastrophization and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following foot and ankle reconstruction.
• To assess the correlation between the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and PROs measured by the SF-12 and FAOS.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 46 patients undergoing foot and ankle reconstruction.
• Utilized the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) to measure preoperative pain catastrophization.
• Assessed patient-reported outcomes using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS).

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was observed between all baseline PCS subcategories and 1-year postoperative FAOS scores for pain, daily activities, and quality of life.
• The mental domain of the SF-12 showed a statistically significant correlation with the rumination and helplessness subcategories of the PCS.

Conclusions:

• A high preoperative Pain Catastrophizing Scale score is significantly associated with worse 1-year Foot and Ankle Outcome Score.
• Screening for and potentially treating pain catastrophization preoperatively may enhance patient-reported outcomes in elective foot and ankle surgery.