Postoperative Pain After Surgical Treatment of Ankle Fractures: A Prospective Study

Range of motion measurements do not correlate with patient reported outcome measures in the early post-operative period following ankle fracture

BACKGROUND

Early mobilization following ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) improves long-term patient functionality. Because of this, numerous resources have been spent to increase patient adherence to post-operative mobilization, with range of motion (ROM) measurements generally considered an important outcome in patient recovery. In this study we investigated how ankle ROM correlates to patient function, self-sufficiency in performing activities of daily living (ADLs), and pain in the early post-operative period.

METHODS

This was a prospective, observational study on patients undergoing ORIF of ankle fractures. We collected patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and ROM measurements at the 2-week, 6-week, 12-week, and 6 month post-operative visit. We collected three PROMs: pain intensity (VAS), pain self-efficacy questionnaire (PSEQ-2), and foot and ankle ability measurement (FAAM). ROM of the ankle was measured by goniometer. ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests were used to examine statistical differences in PROMs over time. Pearson correlation tests were used to examine the association between ROM and PROMs.

RESULTS

One-hundred and twenty-three participants enrolled in this study in the perioperative period. Pain intensity was higher at enrollment compared to week 6 (post-hoc p = 0.006), after which pain intensity did not differ significantly. FAAM scores for activities or daily living (ADL) were increased at all study visits compared to enrollment (post-hoc p < 0.001). FAAM-Sports scores were higher compared to enrollment at the week 12 and 6 month visits (post-hoc p < 0.001). No significant improvements in goniometer measurements were noted across any timepoints. There were no significant correlations between ROM and PROMs at any of the study visits.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort of patients, there was no correlation between ROM and patient pain, self-efficacy or functionality in the early post-operative period following ankle ORIF. The lack of correlation between PROMs and ROM indicates that ROM may be both a poor indicator of patient improvement for physicians to guide post-operative treatment as well as a poor motivator for patient adherence to post-operative exercises. In the future, it is important to study reliable outcome measures in early recovery that can be utilized to track patient recovery from ankle ORIF.

The effect of tourniquet use on postoperative opioid consumption after ankle fracture surgery - a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

A pneumatic tourniquet is often used during ankle fracture surgery to reduce bleeding and enhance the visibility of the surgical field. Tourniquet use causes both mechanical and ischemic pain. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tourniquet time on postoperative opioid consumption after ankle fracture surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the files of 586 adult patients with surgically treated ankle fractures during the years 2014-2016. We evaluated post hoc the effect of tourniquet time on postoperative opioid consumption during the first 24 h after surgery. The patients were divided into quartiles by the tourniquet time (4-43 min; 44-58 min; 59-82 min; and ≥83 min). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the results.

RESULTS

Tourniquets were used in 486 patients. The use of a tourniquet was associated with an increase in the total postoperative opioid consumption by 5.1 mg (95 % CI 1.6-8.5; p=0.004) during the first 24 postoperative hours. The tourniquet time over 83 min was associated with an increase in the mean postoperative oxycodone consumption by 5.4 mg (95 % CI 1.2 to 9.7; p=0.012) compared to patients with tourniquet time of 4-43 min.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a tourniquet and prolonged tourniquet time were associated with higher postoperative opioid consumption during the 24 h postoperative follow-up after surgical ankle fracture fixation. The need for ethical approval and informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board of Northern Ostrobothnia Health District because of the retrospective nature of the study.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks Associated With Shorter Length of Stay Without Increasing Readmission Rate for Ankle Open Reduction Internal Fixation in the Outpatient Setting: A Propensity-Matched Analysis

Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) have become an important modality for pain management in ankle fracture surgery. Previous studies have reported their efficacy, but concerns with rebound pain and readmissions have been cited as possible deterrents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of PNB on hospital length of stay (LOS), narcotic intake, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and associated complications in patients undergoing outpatient ankle open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Adult patients undergoing ankle ORIF were matched 2:1 (no block:block) using propensity-score matching. Preoperative patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared between cohorts. VAS and total narcotic intake were evaluated for each of the first 3 postoperative 8-hour shifts. Narcotic medication was converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Thirty-two patients who received PNB were matched to 64 patients who did not. The PNB group had lower VAS and MME during each of the 8-hour shifts after surgery: 0 to 8 hours (VAS 1.8 vs 6.3; MME 10.6 vs 77.9; p < .001), 8 to 16 hours (VAS 1.2 vs 5.9; MME 9.2 vs 28.2; p < .001), 16 to 24 hours (VAS 3.7 vs 6.2; MME 13.2 vs 24.2; p = .006 and 0.019). PNB had a shorter LOS (average 16.7 hours vs 26.8 hours; p < .001). There were no differences in rates of ED presentations after discharge, hospital readmissions, or complications between cohorts. Peripheral nerve blocks after ankle ORIF are associated with shorter hospital LOS, lower VAS, and reduced narcotic intake without increasing rates of ED visits, hospital readmissions, or complications.

Factors affecting emergency department visits, readmissions, and reoperations within 30 days of ankle fracture surgery- an institutional retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

With the U.S. healthcare system focused on value of care, providers and hospitals are increasingly measured by factors that increase patient care and decrease healthcare cost. Early postoperative adverse events not only increase healthcare cost, but also illuminate areas of potential improvement in patient care. This large single institution study aims to delineate factors that may influence emergency department visits, admissions, and reoperations within 30 days of ankle fracture surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective review of patients at a Level 1 trauma center evaluated 30-day outcomes after ankle fracture surgery over a 4-year period (2015-2018). A total of 596 patients were included in final analysis. The primary outcome measures assessed were emergency department (ED) visits within 30 days, unplanned readmissions within 30 days and unplanned return to the operating room (OR) within 30 days. Patient and injury characteristics were investigated as potential factors related to these 30-day outcomes. Multiple linear regression was used for outcomes.

RESULTS

Forty-three (7.2%) patients visited the ED within thirty days, 30 (5.0%) patients were readmitted within thirty days, and 10 (1.7%) patients requiring reoperation within thirty days. Sex, insurance status, several comorbidities, smoking status, and fracture type/location were not found to be significantly related to 30-day events. Age less than 45 was a significant risk factor for returning to the ED within 30 days (RR 2.1, p = 0.016). Open fractures were more likely to require unplanned reoperation than closed fractures (RR 5.7, p<0.01). Fifty-four percent of ED visits were for postoperative pain, while 37% of ED visits and 60% of readmissions within 30 days were for issues unrelated to the ankle fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Age less than 45 years old was a risk factor for early ED visits, highlighting a potential "at-risk" population after ankle fracture surgery. Furthermore, many of the ED visits (37%) and readmissions (60%) were unrelated to the ankle fracture suggesting unnecessary healthcare utilization may be avoided with protocols that increase emphasis on reconditioning and optimization of comorbidities.