PROMIS pain intensity and interference after pelvic organ prolapse surgery

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaires offer valid cross-disciplinary comparisons.
• Pain measures are crucial for tracking functional recovery after gynecological surgery.
• Limited PROMIS pain data exist for patients undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pain intensity and pain interference using PROMIS short forms after pelvic organ prolapse surgery.
• To assess postoperative recovery and compare pain outcomes across different apical suspension procedures.

Main Methods:

• Patients undergoing uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS), sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF), or minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (MISC) completed PROMIS pain questionnaires.
• Pain scores were assessed at baseline, 1 week, and 6 weeks postoperatively.
• Statistical analyses included ANOVA and multiple linear regression to compare pain scores and identify influencing factors.

Main Results:

• All apical suspension groups demonstrated minimally important change in pain intensity and interference at 1 week.
• Higher pain interference was observed at 1 week in USLS and MISC groups compared to SSLF (p=0.01).
• Concurrent hysterectomy was associated with increased pain intensity and interference; USLS had a higher rate of concurrent hysterectomy.

Conclusions:

• No significant differences in PROMIS pain intensity or interference were detected between apical suspension types at 1 week postoperatively.
• Concurrent hysterectomy emerged as a factor associated with increased postoperative pain.
• PROMIS measures provide valuable insights into pain recovery following pelvic organ prolapse surgery.