Pain Catastrophizing Behaviors and Their Relation to Poor Patient-Reported Outcomes after Scapular Muscle Reattachment

W. Ben Kibler MD, Lexington Clinic
Cale A. Jacobs, University of Kentucky
Aaron D. Sciascia, Eastern Kentucky University

Abstract

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the patient-reported status following treatment of traumatic scapular muscle detachment would improve from the preoperative status and that higher pain catastrophizing scores would be more common in patients with poor postsurgical outcomes. Methods: We studied 50 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for scapular muscle detachment and in whom rehabilitation failed. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were collected preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients completed a 7-point global rating of change scale, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and a 10-point satisfaction scale (0-3, not satisfied [NS]; 4-6, moderately satisfied [MS]; or 7-10, highly satisfied [HS]) focused on current shoulder use. Statistical analyses compared preoperative and postoperative ASES scores, compared the 3 levels of satisfaction and ASES scores, and compared ASES scores in patients with low PCS scores (LPCS)