Citation

Archer KR, Heins SE, Abraham CM, Obremskey WT, Wegener ST, Castillo RC. Clin. J. Pain 2015; 32(3): 196-202.

Affiliation

*Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, TN †Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD ‡Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, TN §Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/AJP.0000000000000246

PMID

25882867

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether pain at hospital discharge is associated with general health and depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 1 year following traumatic orthopaedic injury.

METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled 213 patients, 19 to 86 years of age, admitted to an Academic Level 1 trauma center for surgical treatment of a traumatic lower-extremity or upper-extremity orthopaedic injury. Pain at hospital discharge was measured with the Brief Pain Inventory. At 1 year follow-up, physical and mental health was assessed with the SF-12 and depressive and PTSD symptoms with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), respectively. Cut-of scores of 10 on the PHQ-9 and 44 on the PCL-C classified patients as having depression or PTSD.

RESULTS: 133 patients (62%) completed follow-up at 1 year. Responders and nonresponders did not differ significantly on baseline characteristics. Multivariable regression found that increased pain at discharge was significantly associated with depression (OR=3.3; P<0.001) and PTSD (OR=1.4; P=0.03) at 1 year, after controlling for age, education, injury severity score, and either depressive or PTSD symptoms at hospital discharge. Early postoperative pain was not a significant risk factor for long-term physical and mental health.

DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the importance of early screening for uncontrolled postoperative pain to identify patients at high risk for poor psychological outcomes and who could benefit from more aggressive pain management.

RESULTS suggest early interventions are needed to address pain severity in patients with orthopaedic trauma.

Language: en