Pain and disability 1 year after knee arthroscopic procedures.
BACKGROUND
Persistent chronic pain after surgery is a major health care problem. Its prevalence after knee arthroscopy is unknown. We conducted a follow-up of knee arthroscopy patients. The aims were to estimate the prevalence of pain at rest and during activity 1 year after knee arthroscopy.


METHODS
One hundred patients with moderate or severe acute pain after knee arthroscopy were included in one of two randomized-controlled pain trials. A questionnaire was mailed to all the patients 1 year after inclusion.


RESULTS
The prevalence of pain at rest 1 year after surgery [numeric rating scale (NRS) 0-10 grade >/=1] was 30% (95% CI 17-47) in women and 29% (95% CI 17-46) in men. Four of 33 female (10%) and three of 34 male patients (9%) experienced pain intensities at rest of NRS>4, and the number of patients who had experienced NRS>4 during activities were 7 (21%) and 4 (11%), respectively. Age above 50 years was positively correlated to persistent pain. The number of patients who reported a reduced activity of daily living (ADL) due to pain (NRS>4) was 14 of 33 (42%, 95% CI 28-56%) in female and five of 34 (15%, 95% CI 5-25%) in male patients (P=0.03). Age above 50 years was positively correlated to impaired ADL function due to knee pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistent pain after knee arthroscopy may be a significant health care problem. Age and female gender are independent risk factors for pain and disability 1 year after surgery.
Rosseland
L A
LA
Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. l.a.rosseland@medisin.uio.no
Solheim
N
N
Stubhaug
A
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires