title: One half of patients reports persistent pain three months after orthopaedic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine persistent post-surgical pain prevalence after orthopaedic surgery with its impact on patient quality of life and to assess factors related to it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to 2100 patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in our teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain prevalence 3 months after surgery, pain intensity, a neuropathic pain component using the DN4 questionnaire and its impact on patient quality of life were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand two hundred and ninety-two patients answered our questionnaire. Among them, 48% suffered from chronic pain. This pain had a neuropathic component in 43%, which was responsible for analgesic overconsumption and increases in sleep disturbance and sick leave. Arthrodesis, knee arthroplasty and leg fracture were linked to increased chronic post-surgical pain (OR=2.7, OR=1.8, OR=1.9, respectively; P<0.05). Elbow surgery, meniscectomy, amputation and neurolysis were linked to increased neuropathic pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic, post-surgical pain is common after orthopaedic surgery, leading to analgesic consumption and sleep disturbance. Patients at high risk for developing chronic post-surgical pain must be identified preoperatively. The development of postoperative pain clinics should be one way to respond to this public health problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Institut Claudius Regaud, IUCT-O, 31059 Toulouse, France; INSERM 1027, Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit, University of Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France. Electronic address: fuzier.r@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuzier
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopaedic Center, Purpan University Hospital, 31000 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rousset
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopaedic Center, Purpan University Hospital, 31000 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bataille
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopaedic Center, Purpan University Hospital, 31000 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salces-y-Nédéo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopaedic Center, Purpan University Hospital, 31000 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maguès
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: Chronic pain risk factors; Chronic post-surgical pain; Neuropathic pain; Persistent post-surgical pain