- Approximately 20% of patients reported ongoing pain 3 months post-joint replacement surgery.
- More than 12% continued to report pain 2 years later.
- Identifying patients at higher risk may support improved outcomes.
- The study recommended more research into long-term recovery and strategies to manage pain following joint surgery.
- Differences in pain definitions, follow-up loss, and study populations contributed to variation in the findings.
- Chronic postsurgical pain can impair quality of life and increase healthcare utilization.
- Past studies have linked it to preexisting pain, mental health conditions, and surgical complications.
Source: BMJ Open
