Psychological symptoms and the MCID of the DASH score in shoulder surgery

BACKGROUND: Psychological symptoms are frequently present in patients scheduled for shoulder surgery. The perception of functional disability, activity level and pain in the shoulder is negatively influenced by psychological symptoms, which leads to higher scores of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of psychological symptoms on the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the DASH score in patients after shoulder surgery. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, 176 patients were included. Group 1 (32 patients) had symptoms of psychological disorders before and after surgery; group 2 had no symptoms of psychological disorders (110 patients). In the remaining patients (34 patients), psychological disorders changed after surgery. Clinical outcome was measured with the change of DASH score and anchor questions for perceived improvement of pain and function after surgery. Symptoms of psychological disorders were identified with the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire. An anchor-based mean change score technique was used to determine the MCID of the DASH score. RESULTS: DASH scores before and 12 months after shoulder surgery were significantly higher in patients with symptoms of psychological disorders; change of DASH score was not different between the two groups. The MCID of the DASH score was 13.0 [SD 20.7] in the group with symptoms of psychological disorders and 12.7 [SD 17.6] in the group with no symptoms of psychological disorders. We observed no difference (p = 0.559) in the MCID between the group with and the group without symptoms of psychological disorders. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of psychological disorders had a negative effect on the DASH score but no influence on the MCID of the DASH score. The DASH score could be used in future studies to assess the influence of psychological factors on the clinical outcome of treatment

The Influence of Preoperative and Postoperative Psychological Symptoms on Clinical Outcome after Shoulder Surgery:A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

Contains fulltext : 171670.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Psychological symptoms are highly prevalent in patients with shoulder complaints. Psychological symptoms in patients with shoulder complaints might play a role in the aetiology, perceived disability and pain and clinical outcome of treatment. The aim of this study was to assess whether preoperative symptoms of distress, depression, anxiety and somatisation were associated with a change in function after shoulder surgery and postoperative patient perceived improvement of pain and function. In addition, the change of psychological symptoms after shoulder surgery was analyzed and the influence of postoperative symptoms of psychological disorders after surgery on the change in function after shoulder surgery and perceived postoperative improvement of pain and function. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study was performed in a general teaching hospital. 315 consecutive patients planned for elective shoulder surgery were included. Outcome measures included change of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and anchor questions about improvement in pain and function after surgery. Psychological symptoms were identified before and 12 months after surgery with the validated Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ). Psychological symptoms were encountered in all the various shoulder diagnoses. Preoperative symptoms of psychological disorders persisted after surgery in 56% of patients, 10% of patients with no symptoms of psychological disorders before surgery developed new psychological symptoms. Preoperative symptoms of psychological disorders were not associated with the change of DASH score and perceived improvement of pain and function after shoulder surgery. Patients with symptoms of psychological disorders after surgery were less likely to improve on the DASH score. Postoperative symptoms of distress and depression were associated with worse perceived improvement of pain. Postoperative symptoms of distress, depression and somatisation were associated with worse perceived improvement of function. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative symptoms of distress, depression, anxiety and somatisation were not associated with worse clinical outcome 12 months after shoulder surgery. Symptoms of psychological disorders before shoulder surgery persisted in 56% of patients after surgery. Postoperative symptoms of psychological disorders 12 months after shoulder surgery were strongly associated with worse clinical outcome

Incidence and prognostic factors for postoperative frozen shoulder after shoulder surgery: a prospective cohort study

Frozen shoulder is a potential complication after shoulder surgery. It is a clinical condition that is often associated with marked disability and can have a profound effect on the patient's quality of life. The incidence, etiology, pathology and prognostic factors of postoperative frozen shoulder after shoulder surgery are not known. The purpose of this explorative study was to determine the incidence of postoperative frozen shoulder after various operative shoulder procedures. A second aim was to identify prognostic factors for postoperative frozen shoulder after shoulder surgery. 505 consecutive patients undergoing elective shoulder surgery were included in this prospective cohort study. Follow-up was 6 months after surgery. A prediction model was developed to identify prognostic factors for postoperative frozen shoulder after shoulder surgery using the TRIPOD guidelines. We nominated five potential predictors: gender, diabetes mellitus, type of physiotherapy, arthroscopic surgery and DASH score. Frozen shoulder was identified in 11% of the patients after shoulder surgery and was more common in females (15%) than in males (8%). Frozen shoulder was encountered after all types of operative procedures. A prediction model based on four variables (diabetes mellitus, specialized shoulder physiotherapy, arthroscopic surgery and DASH score) discriminated reasonably well with an AUC of 0.712. Postoperative frozen shoulder is a serious complication after shoulder surgery, with an incidence of 11%. Four prognostic factors were identified for postoperative frozen shoulder: diabetes mellitus, arthroscopic surgery, specialized shoulder physiotherapy and DASH score. The combination of these four variables provided a prediction rule for postoperative frozen shoulder with reasonable fit. Level II, prospective cohort study

The development of the Patient Expectations of Shoulder Surgery survey

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction after a surgical procedure is dependent on meeting preoperative expectations. There is currently no patient expectations survey available for patients undergoing shoulder surgery that is validated, reliable, and easy to use in daily practice. The aim of this study was to develop a Patient Expectations of Shoulder Surgery (PESS) survey. METHODS: In 315 patients, answers to an open-ended question about patient expectations were collected before shoulder surgery to develop the PESS survey. Patients' expectations of the PESS survey were associated with clinical outcome (change of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score). Content validity was assessed by a panel of 10 patients scheduled for shoulder surgery, and test-retest reliability was evaluated. RESULTS: Six items were included in the PESS survey: pain relief, improved range of motion, improved ability to perform daily activities, improved ability to perform work, improved ability to participate in recreational activities and sports, and stop shoulder from dislocating. Three of the 6 expectations were significantly associated with clinical outcome after shoulder surgery. Test-retest reliability was high with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.52-0.92. DISCUSSION: The PESS survey is a valid and reliable survey that can be used in future clinical research and in daily orthopedic practice. We believe that the preoperative evaluation of patient expectations should be a standard procedure before shoulder surgery

Comparing surgical repair with conservative treatment for degenerative rotator cuff tears: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Good clinical results have been reported for both surgical and conservative treatment of rotator cuff tears. The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare functional and radiologic improvement after surgical and conservative treatment of degenerative rotator cuff tears. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial that included 56 patients with a degenerative full-thickness rotator cuff tear between January 2009 and December 2012; 31 patients were treated conservatively, and rotator cuff repair was performed in 25 patients. Outcome measures, including the Constant-Murley score (CMS), visual analog scale (VAS) pain and VAS disability scores, were assessed preoperatively and after 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively. Results: At 12 months postoperatively, the mean CMS was 81.9 (standard deviation [SD], 15.6) in the surgery group vs 73.7 (SD, 18.4) in the conservative group (P = .08). VAS pain (P = .04) and VAS disability (P = .02) were significantly lower in the surgery group at the 12-month follow-up. A subgroup analysis showed postoperative CMS results were significantly better in surgically treated patients without a retear compared with conservatively treated patients (88.5 [SD, 6.2] vs 73.7 [SD, 18.4]). Conclusion: In our population of patients with degenerative rotator cuff tears who were randomly treated by surgery or conservative protocol, we did not observe differences in functional outcome as measured with the CMS 1 year after treatment. However, significant differences in pain and disabilities were observed in favor of surgical treatment. The best outcomes in function and pain were seen in patients with an intact rotator cuff postoperatively. (C) 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees

Rofecoxib inhibits heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty.

Contains fulltext : 53392.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)INTRODUCTION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prevent heterotopic ossification but gastrointestinal complaints are frequently. Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibiting NSAID produce less gastrointestinal side effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective two-stage study design for phase 2 clinical trials with 42 patients was used to determine if rofecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) 50 mg oral for 7 days prevents heterotopic ossification. A cemented primary THA was inserted for osteoarthroses. After 6 months heterotopic bone formation was assessed on AP radiographs using the Brooker classification. RESULTS: No heterotopic ossification was found in 81% of the patients, 19% of the patients had Brooker grade 1 ossification. CONCLUSION: Using a two-stage study design for phase 2 clinical trials, a 7-day treatment of a COX-2 inhibitor (rofecoxib) prevents effectively the formation of heterotopic ossification after cemented primary total hip arthroplasty