A potential link between inflammatory profiles, clinical pain, pain catastrophizing and long-term outcomes after total knee arthroplasty surgery

  • 0Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

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Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Five years after total knee replacement (TKR), low-grade inflammation may be linked to chronic pain, high pain catastrophizing, and poor function in some patients. This study explores inflammatory mediators associated with long-term TKR pain complications.

Area Of Science

  • Orthopedics
  • Pain Medicine
  • Immunology

Background

  • Chronic postoperative pain is a significant issue following total knee replacement (TKR).
  • The role of specific inflammatory mediators in long-term TKR pain remains unclear.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate inflammatory mediators five years after TKR in patients with varying pain levels.
  • To investigate associations between these mediators and clinical pain intensity, cognitive, and functional outcomes.

Main Methods

  • Plasma samples from 76 TKR patients were analyzed for 44 inflammatory markers five years post-surgery.
  • Pain (VAS), pain catastrophizing (PCS), and knee function (OKS) were assessed.
  • Patients were grouped by high/low scores for VAS, PCS, and OKS.

Main Results

  • Twelve biomarkers correlated with pain intensity (VAS), four with pain catastrophizing (PCS), and three with knee function (OKS).
  • Four markers differed between high and low chronic pain groups.
  • Three markers were altered in high catastrophizers and three in patients with poor functional scores.

Conclusions

  • A subset of patients may experience low-grade inflammation five years post-TKR, associated with high pain, catastrophizing, and low function.
  • These findings offer insights into the mechanisms underlying long-term pain after TKR.