Pain Interference Prior to and 1 Year After Surgery for Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurology
• Pain Medicine

Background:

• Brachial plexus injury (BPI) causes debilitating pain, impacting patient quality of life.
• Pain interference (PI) is the extent to which pain hinders daily activities.
• Understanding predictors of PI is crucial for effective BPI management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of pain interference (PI) in patients with brachial plexus injury (BPI).
• To assess the relationship between PI, depression, anxiety, pain symptoms, and muscle function before and after surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective multicenter study of 37 BPI patients.
• Utilized Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) PI questionnaires, anxiety, and depression scales.
• Assessed pain symptoms, physical limitations, emotional recovery, and muscle function pre- and post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Mean PROMIS PI scores were similar pre- and 1-year post-surgery (60.8 vs. 59.7).
• Pre-operatively, PI correlated moderately with depression and functional limitations.
• Post-operatively, PI strongly correlated with pain symptoms, functional limitations, and emotional recovery.

Conclusions:

• Pain interference persists significantly one year after BPI surgery.
• PI is strongly associated with pain symptoms and emotional recovery, not muscle function.
• Prioritizing pain management alongside functional recovery is essential for BPI patients.