• L A Rosseland, N Solheim, and A Stubhaug.
• Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. l.a.rosseland@medisin.uio.no
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2008 Mar 1;52(3):332-7.

BackgroundPersistent chronic pain after surgery is a major health care problem. Its prevalence after knee arthroscopy is unknown. We conducted a follow-up of knee arthroscopy patients. The aims were to estimate the prevalence of pain at rest and during activity 1 year after knee arthroscopy.MethodsOne hundred patients with moderate or severe acute pain after knee arthroscopy were included in one of two randomized-controlled pain trials. A questionnaire was mailed to all the patients 1 year after inclusion.ResultsThe prevalence of pain at rest 1 year after surgery [numeric rating scale (NRS) 0-10 grade >/=1] was 30% (95% CI 17-47) in women and 29% (95% CI 17-46) in men. Four of 33 female (10%) and three of 34 male patients (9%) experienced pain intensities at rest of NRS>4, and the number of patients who had experienced NRS>4 during activities were 7 (21%) and 4 (11%), respectively. Age above 50 years was positively correlated to persistent pain. The number of patients who reported a reduced activity of daily living (ADL) due to pain (NRS>4) was 14 of 33 (42%, 95% CI 28-56%) in female and five of 34 (15%, 95% CI 5-25%) in male patients (P=0.03). Age above 50 years was positively correlated to impaired ADL function due to knee pain.ConclusionsPersistent pain after knee arthroscopy may be a significant health care problem. Age and female gender are independent risk factors for pain and disability 1 year after surgery.

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