Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine predictors of persisting moderate/severe pain post orthopaedic injury.
Data were obtained from patients presenting to the two adult level 1 trauma centres in Victoria, Australia between August 2003 and August 2004. The maximum self reported pain levels at discharge and at 6 months post injury were determined using 11-point visual analogue scales (VAS). Moderate/severe pain was defined as a VAS score of 5 or greater. Associations between categorical variables were determined using chi-square tests and adjusted using multivariate logistic regression to determine possible predictors of persistent pain.
Data were obtained from 742 patients (age 15–100 years, 60.7% male). 37.1% had moderate/severe pain 6 months post injury. Moderate/severe pain at discharge was associated with an increased risk (OR 2.46 (95%CI 1.72–3.52), p< 0.0001) and isolated upper extremity injuries were associated with a reduced risk (OR 0.43 (95%CI 0.24–0.75), p=0.003) of moderate/severe pain 6 months post injury. Age (p=0.98), gender (p=0.37) and the presence of multiple orthopaedic (p=0.76) or non-orthopaedic injuries (p=0.58) were not predictors of moderate/severe pain 6 months post injury.
The severity of pain at discharge was the main predictor of moderate/severe pain 6 months following orthopaedic trauma. Further studies are needed to determine if improving pain control prior to discharge can reduce the incidence of persistent pain following orthopaedic injury.
The abstracts were prepared by Editorial Secretary Jean-Claude Theis. Correspondence should be addressed to NZOA at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dunedin Hospital, Private Bag 1921, Dunedin, New Zealand.
