Predictors of Pain Management Outcomes Following Orthopaedic Surgery: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Patient Satisfaction

Background:

• High rates of patient dissatisfaction with post-orthopaedic surgery pain management in the US.
• Inadequate pain management leads to increased costs, readmissions, and chronic pain.
• Traditional protocols neglect psychological and social pain factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify factors linked to unsatisfactory post-orthopaedic surgery pain management.
• Determine key components of successful pain management protocols.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched relevant online databases for English-language studies.
• Included quantitative and qualitative studies on patient feedback and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Patient sense of control over pain, not just pain level, correlates with higher satisfaction.
• Factors associated with dissatisfaction include opioid misuse history, patient expectations, and mental health.
• Perceived pain severity and duration are not the sole drivers of satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Pre-operative education and communication enhance patient control and satisfaction.
• Focus on patient risk factors and multi-modal pain management strategies.
• Individualized pre-operative education may improve post-surgical pain management satisfaction.