PRE-OPERATIVE WIDESPREAD PAIN SENSITISATION AND CHRONIC PAIN AFTER JOINT REPLACEMENT

BackgroundChronic pain after joint replacement is common, affecting approximately 10% of patients after total hip replacement (THR) and 20% of patients after total knee replacement (TKR). Heightened generalised sensitivity to nociceptive input could be a risk factor for the development of this pain. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative widespread pain sensitivity was associated with chronic pain after joint replacement.MethodsData were analysed from 254 patients receiving THR and 239 patients receivingTKR. Pain was assessed preoperatively and at 12 months after surgery using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Pain Scale. Preoperative widespread pain sensitivity was assessed through measurement of pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at the forearm using an algometer. Statistical analysis was conducted using linear regression and linear mixed models, and adjustments were made for confounding variables.ResultsIn both the THR and TKR cohort, lower PPTs (h...