RESEARCH - Joint surgery has major impact on pain, less effect on functioning

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Joint Surgery Has Major Impact on Pain, Less Effect on Functioning

Learn more NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sep 29 - In patients with

inflammatory arthropathy, orthopedic surgery -- especially joint

replacement - has a major impact on pain but less of an effect on

other aspects of health, according to a study from Norway.

" Improvement in the measures of physical functioning was generally

smaller than in measures of pain, " the researchers write in the

September ls of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Led by Dr. H. Osnes-Ringen from the University of Oslo, the authors

examined the effectiveness of orthopedic surgery (categorized as

" large-joint replacement " or " other surgical procedures " ) in 255

patients with inflammatory arthropathies. Roughly a quarter of the

patients had large-joint replacement operations.

Follow-up data were collected by mailed questionnaires. In addition to

pain, patients were asked about their levels of fatigue, vitality, and

mental social functioning.

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http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/709651

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