One half of patients reports persistent pain three months after orthopaedic surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To determine persistent post-surgical pain prevalence after orthopaedic surgery with its impact on patient quality of life and to assess factors related to it.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study.

PATIENTS

A questionnaire was mailed to 2100 patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in our teaching hospital.

METHODS

Pain prevalence 3 months after surgery, pain intensity, a neuropathic pain component using the DN4 questionnaire and its impact on patient quality of life were assessed.

RESULTS

One thousand two hundred and ninety-two patients answered our questionnaire. Among them, 48% suffered from chronic pain. This pain had a neuropathic component in 43%, which was responsible for analgesic overconsumption and increases in sleep disturbance and sick leave. Arthrodesis, knee arthroplasty and leg fracture were linked to increased chronic post-surgical pain (OR=2.7, OR=1.8, OR=1.9, respectively; P<0.05). Elbow surgery, meniscectomy, amputation and neurolysis were linked to increased neuropathic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic, post-surgical pain is common after orthopaedic surgery, leading to analgesic consumption and sleep disturbance. Patients at high risk for developing chronic post-surgical pain must be identified preoperatively. The development of postoperative pain clinics should be one way to respond to this public health problem.