Pain Predictors in Selected Postoperative Patients

摘要

This descriptive study described postoperative pain for 106 patients in amidwestern metropolitan hospital undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA, n = 21), total knee arthroplasty (TKA, n = 44), or microlumbar discectomy (MLD, n = 41); and ascertained factors that predicted postoperative pain. Postoperative pain was assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and a 0 to 10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Postoperative pain was described as most intense during the first 28 hours following surgery (MLD M = 4.0, THA M = 3.1, TKA M = 4.3), and intermittently throughout the first 3 postoperative days during periods of decreased pain medications. Preceding pain intensity ratings were the strongest predictors of subsequent postoperative pain intensity ratings (Beta = .29 to .70). This study indicates more attention should be focused on preceding pain intensity ratings and more adequate analgesia in the immediate postoperative period.