Acute to chronic pain transition in extremity trauma: A narrative review for future preventive interventions (part 2).

BACKGROUND: The first part of this series of 2 articles revealed that chronic pain is an important issue post extremity trauma (ET) involving permanent biological transformations. Interventions aimed at preventing chronic pain in ET patients are therefore required. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive analysis of literature on risk and protective factors for chronic pain post-ET to guide the development of relevant preventive interventions. METHODS: A narrative review of the literature was undertaken. Databases were searched to identify studies on chronic pain prognostic factors in ET patients. RESULTS: Demographic, injury-related and psychological factors were shown to either contribute to or limit acute to chronic pain transition. High-intensity acute pain hasconsistently been identified as an important chronic pain risk factor. Other significant documented risk factors include: female gender, older age, less than college education, lower limb injury, symptoms of anxiety and depression and pain catastrophizing. Pain self-efficacy and pain acceptance have been shown to protect individuals against chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: This narrative review highlights factors placing ET patients at higher risk of chronic pain or protecting them against this problem. Determining how these factors could be addressed in preventive interventions is the next step before undertaking their development.

Acute to chronic pain transition in extremity trauma: A narrative review for future preventive interventions (part 1).

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted over the last decade that describe the issue of pain and prognostic factors of acute to chronic pain transition post extremity trauma (ET). However, no thorough interventions to prevent chronic pain development in ET patients have yet been proposed. OBJECTIVES: This first part of a series of two articles aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of literature on the epidemiology of pain post-ET, the impact of persistent pain on ET patients and the relevant biological transformations involved in acute to chronic pain transition. The second article will focus on risk and protective factors relating to chronic pain that could potentially assist in the development of preventive interventions. METHODS: A narrative review of the literature was undertaken. Databases were searched to identify relevant studies and seminal works on the topics of interest. RESULTS: The review revealed that acute pain converts to chronic pain in up to 86% of ET patients. Analysis of study findings also indicated that chronic pain interferes with activities of daily living and capacity to work. Weak associations between chronic pain and anxiety as well as depression have been demonstrated. Anxiety and depression have been identified as important predictors of chronic pain post-ET. Neuro-immunological transformations, genetics and an emotional shift in the brain circuitry involved in nociception have been shown to contribute to the transition towards chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: This narrative review supports the view that acute to chronic pain transition is a prevalent and significant issue post-ET. It also provides information about patients who present a higher risk of chronic pain and features that should be integrated in preventive interventions as well as methodological considerations pertaining to the evaluation of such interventions.

Rehabilitation after lower limb injury: development of a predictive score (RALLI score).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to identify the risk factors associated with the need for inpatient rehabilitation after lower limb injury to develop a predictive scoring tool for early identification of such patients. METHODS: We followed a prospective cohort of patients admitted to a level 1 trauma centre. Data were collected through chart review and a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographics, patient living environment, pretrauma status, injury and treatment received. We compared patients who were discharged home with those going to rehabilitation after acute care. Analysis consisted of bivariate comparisons and logistic regression. RESULTS: Our study included 160 patients with a mean age of 56 years. A total of 40% were discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation centre. Factors associated with inpatient rehabilitation were low preinjury physical health status, concomitant injury of the upper limbs, bilateral lower limb injury, the use of a walking aid before injury, head injury and femur or pelvic fractures. We created a predictive score using the top 3 risk factors: upper limb injury, bilateral lower limb injury and presence of femoral or pelvic fractures. The chance of needing inpatient rehabilitation rose from 14% with 0 factors to 47% with 1 factor and 96% with 2 factors. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation planning should begin for patients exhibiting at least of 3 risk factors at the time of admission to acute care. Prospective validation of the tool is needed, but it has the potential to orient the multidisciplinary team's decision on rehabilitation needs postdischarge.

CONTEXTE: Notre étude avait pour but de recenser les facteurs de risque associés à un séjour en établissement de réadaptation pour les patients victimes de traumatismes aux membres inférieurs, afin de concevoir un outil de classification prédictive pour l'identification précoce de ces patients. MÉTHODES: Nous avons suivi une cohorte prospective de patients admis dans un centre de traumatologie de niveau 1. Les données proviennent d'une revue des dossiers et de questionnaires auto-administrés sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, le milieu de vie des patients, leur statut prémorbide, le traumatisme subi et le traitement reçu. Nous avons comparé les patients qui ont reçu leur congé pour retourner à la maison à ceux qui devaient faire un séjour en centre de réadaptation après des soins actifs. L'analyse a reposé sur des comparaisons bivariées et la régression logistique. RÉSULTATS: Notre étude a regroupé 160 patients âgés en moyenne de 56 ans. En tout, 40 % ont été transférés dans des centres de réadaptation où ils ont séjourné. Les facteurs associés au transfert dans un centre de réadaptation étaient : piètre état de santé physique avant le traumatisme, traumatisme concomitant aux membres supérieurs, traumatisme aux 2 membres inférieurs, utilisation d'un dispositif d'aide à la marche avant le traumatisme, traumatisme crânien et fractures du fémur ou du bassin. Nous avons créé un score prédictif sur la base des 3 principaux facteurs, soit traumatisme concomitant aux membres supérieurs, traumatisme aux 2 membres inférieurs et fractures du fémur ou du bassin. Le risque de devoir séjourner en centre de réadaptation est passé de 14 % en l'absence de ces facteurs à 47 % en présence de l'un des facteurs et à 96 % en présence de 2 facteurs. CONCLUSION: La planification de la réadaptation devrait commencer dès leur admission en centre de soins actifs pour les patients qui présentent au départ au moins 3 facteurs de risque. Il faudra valider l'outil de façon prospective, mais il pourrait orienter les décisions de l'équipe multidisciplinaire quant aux besoins de réadaptation lorsque le patient reçoit son congé.

Progressive osteolysis of the radius after distal biceps tendon repair with the bioabsorbable screw.

BACKGROUND: Several complications have been reported with the use of the PLLA (poly-L-Lactide) bioabsorbable screw in orthopedic surgery. The hypothesis was that the use of a bioabsorbable screw in distal biceps tenodesis results in significant osteolysis of the radial bone. The correlation between osteolysis and functional and clinical outcomes was also studied. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent anatomic repair of the distal biceps tendon with a bioabsorbable screw were included. From the x-ray taken immediately after the surgery, the ratio between the volume of the bone tunnel and the volume of the radius bone section was measured. This relation was calculated at different follow-up periods to obtain the percentage of tunnel enlargement over time. Complications, as well as functional and clinical outcomes, were also assessed. Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), the quick-Disability Arm Shoulder Hand (DASH), and the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) were used. RESULTS: Nineteen consecutive patients were available for follow-up. The average initial relative volume occupied by the screw tunnel was 49% of the bone section and increased to 61% at the last follow-up at an average of 22 months (range, 3-62 months). Eight of the 19 patients presented postoperative complications. There was only 1 case of complete bone filling of the tunnel, which was observed at a 5-year and 2-months follow-up. There was no significant correlation between the volume of bone resorption and functional and clinical outcomes. DISCUSSION: No correlation was found between the volume of bone tunnel and the functional outcome. However, the results indicate that the use of a bioabsorbable screw in distal biceps tendon repair results in significant bone osteolysis.