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Published in: International Orthopaedics 7/2020

01-07-2020 | Mood Disorders | Original Paper

Personality traits predict residual pain after total hip and knee arthroplasty

Authors: Michele Mercurio, Giorgio Gasparini, Elvira Anna Carbone, Olimpio Galasso, Cristina Segura-Garcia

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 7/2020

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Abstract

Aim of the study

We assessed the role of personality traits, anxiety, and depression in residual pain among patients who underwent total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty.

Method

Eighty-three patients (40 THA and 43 TKA) were interviewed pre-operatively (t0); five days (t1) after surgery; and one (t2), three (t3), six (t4), and 12 months (t5) after surgery. Personality (TCI-R), pain (VAS), anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (SF-12), functionality (HHS/KSS), and disability (WOMAC) were evaluated.

Results

Pain reduction and functional improvement were reported at t5 (both p < 0.001) in both THA and TKA patients. THA patients showed earlier and greater functional improvement after surgery (both p < 0.001) in comparison with TKA. Residual pain (VAS > 30 mm) was noted in 15% of the THA patients and 25% of the TKA patients, and it correlated with the SF-12 PCS (r2 = − 0.412; p < 0.001), SF-12 MCS (r2 = − 0.473; p < 0.001), HADS-A (r2 = 0.619; p = <0.001), HADS-D (r2 = 0.559; p < 0.001), functionality (r2 = − 0.482; p < 0.001), and WOMAC (r2 = 0.536; p < 0.001) scores at t5. High pre-operative harm avoidance, persistence, and anxiety scores were predictive of residual pain after both THA and TKA (p < 0.001).

Discussion

The proportion of patients complaining of residual pain in this study was similar to that in previous findings. Multiple predictors of residual pain after THA and TKA have been previously described, and several studies evaluated the influence of psychological factors on the outcome of joint arthroplasty; however, only four studies investigated the role of personality traits in the outcome of THA and TKA patients, and a unique study out of these investigations demonstrated the effect of personality on persisting pain.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrated that personality traits and anxiety predict residual pain; thus, pre-operative evaluation of these factors could be helpful in identifying patients at risk for residual pain.
Literature
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Metadata
Title
Personality traits predict residual pain after total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors
Michele Mercurio
Giorgio Gasparini
Elvira Anna Carbone
Olimpio Galasso
Cristina Segura-Garcia
Publication date
01-07-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 7/2020
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-020-04553-6

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