Anxiety and depression are associated with poor outcomes in open elbow arthrolysis

Open elbow arthrolysis (OEA) is an established treatment for posttraumatic elbow stiffness (PTES); however, its efficacy is debatable for some patients. Poor surgical outcomes have been associated with anxiety and depression in other orthopedic conditions, but no studies have examined this association in OEA. In this study, we aimed to determine whether a high preoperative anxiety and depression score is associated with a worse functional outcome in OEA for PTES.

A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was carried out in patients undergoing OEA between April 2021 and March 2022. Mental state evaluated by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), subjective elbow function valued by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, objective elbow function valued by Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), pain score measured by visual analog scale (VAS) and the flexion-extension range of motion (ROM) of the affected elbow were collected before and after surgery in outpatient clinic follow-up at 3 months and 6 months. Patient satisfaction was only recorded 6 months postoperatively. All patients were divided into 2 groups based on the preoperative HADS score for analysis: Group A was the nonanxiety-depression group, and Group B was the anxiety-depression group.

A total of 49 patients were included. Both groups improved in DASH, MEPS and ROM at 3 months and at 6 months. The HADS score in Group B decreased significantly at 6 months, showing that the mental state of patients in Group B improved after surgery. Group A had a lower DASH at 3 months and 6 months, larger 6-month ROM and higher satisfaction rate than Group B. Comparing the differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements, Group A improved more in ROM at 6 months. There was no significant difference in other outcome measures between the two groups.

OEA is a safe and effective treatment for PTES, and can achieve good clinical outcomes in the short-term follow-up, regardless of whether the patients suffer from anxiety or depression. Patients with a HADS score ≥11 before OEA, however, have worse outcomes than those with a HADS score <11.

Level II; Retrospective Design; Prognosis Study.