Chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics after surgery for major trauma to the lower limb: prevalence, predictors, and association with pain severity, disability, and quality of life in the UK WHiST trial

Abstract

The aim of the study wasto identify the prevalence of neuropathic pain after lower limb fracture surgery, assess associations with pain severity, quality of life and disability, and determine baseline predictors of chronic neuropathic pain at three and at six months post-injury. The trial recruited 1,547 participants from 24 trauma centres. Neuropathic pain was measured at three and six months.

The median age of the participants was 51 years (interquartile range 35 to 64). At three and six months post-injury respectively, 32% (222/702) and 30% (234/787) had neuropathic pain, 56% (396/702) and 53% (413/787) had chronic pain without neuropathic characteristics, and the remainder were pain-free. Pain severity was higher among those with neuropathic pain. The patients with neuropathic pain at six months post-injury had more physical disability and poorer quality of life compared to those without neuropathic characteristics. Logistic regression identified that prognostic factors of younger age, current smoker, below knee fracture, concurrent injuries, and regular analgesia pre-injury were associated with higher odds of post-injury neuropathic pain.

Conclusion: Pain with neuropathic characteristics is common after lower limb fracture surgery and persists to six months post-injury. Persistent neuropathic pain is associated with substantially poorer recovery and requires special treatment.

Source The Bone & Joint Journal