The relationship between pre-operative pain characteristics and periacetabular osteotomy outcomes in patients with acetabular dysplasia

Pre- and Post-Operative Pain Intensity and Physical Activity Levels in Individuals with Acetabular Dysplasia Undergoing Periacetabular Osteotomy: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background

Acetabular dysplasia (AD) causes pain, limited function, and development of early hip osteoarthritis. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a surgical treatment for AD that aims to reposition the acetabulum to reduce pain and improve function.

Purpose

To examine pain recovery and physical activity (PA) before and during the six months after PAO.

Study Design

Case series, prospective.

Methods

Individuals with AD scheduled for PAO were enrolled. Pain intensity was evaluated before PAO and at one week and one, three, and six months following PAO. PA levels was evaluated before and six months following PAO using accelerometers (time spent in sedentary behavior, light PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], and daily steps) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; time spent in walking and in MVPA). Pain improvements was examined over time following PAO using a repeated-measures one-way ANOVA as well as improvements in PA levels before and six months after PAO using paired-sample t tests. In addition, time spent in MVPA was qualitatively summarized at each time point (before and six months after PAO) measured by both the accelerometers and IPAQ.

Results

Out of 49 screened participants, 28 were enrolled, and 23 individuals (22 females; age=23.1±7.9 years) completed both study visits. Compared to pre-PAO pain, participants reported significant improvements in pain at one month and onward following PAO (p\<0.011). However, PA levels at six months following PAO did not differ from pre-PAO PA levels (p>0.05). Qualitatively, participants reported spending more time in MVPA recorded by the IPAQ (pre-PAO=73.3±150.2 mins/day; six-months after PAO=121.2±192.2 mins/day), compared with MVPA recorded by accelerometers (pre-PAO=22.6±25.2 mins/day; six-months after PAO=25.0±21.4 mins/day).

Conclusions

Individuals with AD reported significant pain reduction at one month and up to six months after PAO, but PA levels did not change six months after PAO compared to baseline testing. Future studies should consider examining longitudinal pain recovery and PA improvements over longer periods of time with larger samples of individuals with AD undergoing PAO and identifying modifiable factors to minimize pain and increase PA participation.

Level of Evidence

III.

The Relationship Between Postoperative Patient-Reported Psychological Outcomes and Preoperative Pain Characteristics in Patients Who Underwent Periacetabular Osteotomy

This study sought to investigate the relationship between multiple preoperative characteristics of pain (maximum pain severity location, the presence of pain in certain locations, the highest level of pain, and the number of pain locations) and psychological outcome measures as reported by patients. Fifty-four hips (50 patients) that underwent periacetabular osteotomy to treat acetabular dysplasia between February 2017 and July 2020 were reviewed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS21), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), radiographic analysis, and questionnaires concerning pain severity/location. Twenty-six hips had their worst pain in the groin, whereas 28 hips had greater or equal levels of pain at another location. There was no significant difference between these two locations on any of the postoperative psychological outcomes (HADS, P=.53; DASS21, P=.85; PCS, P=.97). Additionally, there was not a significant relationship between pain in any location other than the groin and any postoperative psychological outcomes (P≥.08). Finally, the highest level of preoperative pain and the number of locations of pain demonstrated no significant relationship with postoperative psychological outcomes (maximum severity: HADS, P=.28; DASS21, P=.49; PCS, P=.57; number of pain locations: HADS, P=.47; DASS21, P=.60; PCS, P=.35). Variance in preoperative pain location, severity, and number of pain locations seemingly does not result in any significant effect on postoperative psychological outcomes. Thus, a large range of patients with acetabular dysplasia may experience similar, favorable psychological outcomes from treatment with periacetabular osteotomy notwithstanding the characteristics of preoperative pain. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(1):28-33.].

The relationship between patient-reported outcomes and preoperative pain characteristics in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty

Aims

This study aims to answer the following questions in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA): are patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) affected by the location of the maximum severity of pain?; are PROMs affected by the presence of non-groin pain?; are PROMs affected by the severity of pain?; and are PROMs affected by the number of pain locations?

Methods

We reviewed 336 hips (305 patients) treated with THA for hip OA from December 2016 to November 2019 using pain location/severity questionnaires, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score (HOS), international Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) score, and radiological analysis. Descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Spearman partial correlation coefficients were used.

Results

There was a significant difference in iHOT-12 scores between groups experiencing the most severe pain in the groin and the trochanter (p = 0.039). Additionally, more favourable mHHS scores were related to the presence of preoperative pain in trochanter (p = 0.049), lower back (p = 0.056), lateral thigh (p = 0.034), and posterior thigh (p = 0.005). Finally, the maximum severity of preoperative pain and number of pain locations had no significant relationship with PROMs (maximum severity: HHS: p = 0.928, HOS: p = 0.163, iHOT-12 p = 0.233; number of pain locations: HHS: p = 0.211; HOS: p = 0.801; iHOT-12: p = 0.112).

Conclusion

Although there was a significant difference in iHOT-12 scores between patients with the most severe pain in the groin or trochanter, and the presence of pain in the trochanter, lower back, lateral thigh, or posterior thigh was related to higher mHHS scores, the majority of preoperative pain characteristics did not have a significant impact on outcomes. Therefore, a broad array of patients with hip OA might expect similar, favourable outcomes from THA notwithstanding preoperative pain characteristics. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(4):332–339.