Issue: July 2024
Fact checked byKristen Dowd

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May 22, 2024
1 min read
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Postoperative negative pain thoughts associated with poor outcomes after shoulder surgery

Issue: July 2024
Fact checked byKristen Dowd
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Key takeaways:

  • Postoperative negative pain thoughts were associated with worse patient-reported outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
  • Preoperative negative pain thoughts were not associated with any outcomes.
Perspective from Jay D. Keener, MD

Results showed patients with postoperative negative pain thoughts after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may have worse patient-reported outcomes vs. patients without negative pain thoughts or preoperative negative pain thoughts.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati performed a single-center, observational cohort study of 109 patients (mean age, 56.49 years) who were scheduled to undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between July 2021 and August 2022.

hospital bed
Postoperative negative pain thoughts were associated with worse patient-reported outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Image: Adobe Stock

Preoperatively, all patients completed the short form negative pain thoughts questionnaire (NPTQ-SF), as well as patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys such as the SF-12, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder evaluation form and VAS pain scores. Overall, 74 patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and had complete NPTQ-SF scores and PROs at 6-month follow-up.

Mean preoperative NPTQ-SF score was 12.8, whereas mean postoperative NPTQ-SF score was 8.5. Researchers found postoperative NPTQ-SF scores were significantly negatively associated with postoperative SF-12 scores, ASES scores and patient satisfaction. In addition, they found postoperative NPTQ-SF scores were significantly positively associated with postoperative VAS pain scores.

“This correlation suggests a role for counseling and expectation management in the postoperative setting,” the researchers wrote.

Researchers noted preoperative NPTQ-SF scores were not associated with any postoperative PROs, and, therefore, should not be used as a preoperative tool.