The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a distressing and difficult-to-treat complication of wrist fracture. Estimates of the incidence of CRPS after wrist fracture vary greatly. It is not currently possible to identify who will go on to develop CRPS after wrist fracture. In this prospective cohort study, a nearly consecutive sample of 1,549 patients presenting with wrist fracture to 1 of 3 hospital-based fracture clinics and managed nonsurgically was assessed within 1 week of fracture and followed up 4 months later. Established criteria were used to diagnose CRPS. The incidence of CRPS in the 4 months after wrist fracture was 3.8% (95% confidence interval = 2.9-4.8%). A prediction model based on 4 clinical assessments (pain, reaction time, dysynchiria, and swelling) discriminated well between patients who would and would not subsequently develop CRPS (c index .99). A simple assessment of pain intensity (0-10 numerical rating scale) provided nearly the same level of discrimination (c index .98). One in 26 patients develops CRPS within 4 months of nonsurgically managed wrist fracture. A pain score of ≥5 in the first week after fracture should be considered a "red flag" for CRPS. ⋯ This study shows that excessive baseline pain in the week after wrist fracture greatly elevates the risk of developing CRPS. Clinicians can consider a rating of greater than 5/10 to the question "What is your average pain over the last 2 days?" to be a "red flag" for CRPS.
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Timely intervention and recovery is beneficial to patients with chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, a surgical option process was developed for use in a functional restoration program (FRP) to allow chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorder patients who were undecided about elective orthopedic surgery to participate in interdisciplinary rehabilitation, rather than suspending treatment, until the surgical option could be resolved. A consecutive cohort of 295 chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorder patients with an unresolved surgical option was admitted to an FRP and their surgical preference at FRP midpoint was determined. The majority of patients declined surgery (n = 164) and were invited to complete the FRP. The remainder elected to pursue surgery and either underwent surgery (n = 43) or had their surgical request denied (n = 38). In the post-FRP year, only .8% of patients reversed their original decision and underwent surgery. Patients whose surgical preferences were accommodated (ie, the declined-surgery/underwent-surgery groups) demonstrated significant psychosocial improvement and excellent socioeconomic outcomes, which were similar to those of FRP patients without a surgical option. Patients whose request for surgery was denied had poorer outcomes than the other groups, but still outperformed FRP dropouts. This suggests that the addition of a formal surgical option process to an interdisciplinary FRP facilitated the surgical decision-making process and helped prevent delayed recovery. ⋯ This study introduces a surgical option process to improve outcomes for patients with chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders who are undecided about elective orthopedic surgery. The addition of a surgical option process to interdisciplinary rehabilitation may resolve surgical indecision, improve outcomes, promote psychosocial recovery, and facilitate progression to Maximum Medical Improvement.