Psychosocial Predictors of Chronic Pain 12Months After Surgical Fixation for Lower Extremity Fracture: A Prospective Study.

Abstract

Pain is a common outcome after lower extremity fracture (LEF) requiring surgical fixation. Although psychosocial characteristics have meaningful associations with adverse outcomes, no studies have evaluated how psychosocial characteristics throughout recovery are associated with pain outcomes. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether psychosocial characteristics are early risk factors for pain outcomes in patients following LEF who have no history of chronic pain. Participants, 122 patients with a LEF, consented to this single-center, prospective cohort study. Measurements of depression, pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, and fear of movement were completed at 1week, 6weeks, 3months, 6months, and 12months after LEF. Chronic pain development and pain intensity were assessed at 12months. Univariate analyses assessing the difference between means and corresponding effect sizes were evaluated between those individuals with and without chronic pain at 12months. Separate logistic and linear regression models using psychosocial scores at each time point were used to determine the association with the development of chronic pain and pain intensity, respectively. Of 114 patients (93.4%) who completed the study, 51 (45%) reported chronic pain at 12months. In the univariate analysis, all psychosocial variables at 6weeks, 3months, 6months, and 12months were significantly different between those with and those without chronic pain at 12months (Cohen d range = 0.84 to 1.65). In the multivariate regression models, all psychosocial variables at 6weeks, 3months, and 6months were associated with chronic pain development (odds ratio range = 1.04 to 1.22) and pain intensity (β range = .05 to .14) at 12months. Psychosocial scores as early as 6weeks after surgery are associated with pain outcomes 12months after LEF. Physical therapists should consider adding psychosocial screening throughout recovery after LEF to identify patients at increased risk for long-term pain outcomes.