The Relationship of Patient Characteristics and Prolonged Pain after Treatment of Carpometacarpal Joint Arthritis of the Thumb

Abstract

Background: The carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the thumb is the second most common site of osteoarthritis in the hand. Clinical severity stage of CMC joint arthritis has not been correlated with the pain level of the patient. Recently, the association of joint pain with patient psychological factor, such as depression or case-specific personality, has been investigated. This study was designed to determine the impact of psychological factors to residual pain after treatment of CMC joint arthritis, using pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) and the Yatabe–Guilford (YG) personality test. Methods: Twenty-six patients (7 males and 19 females) with 26 hands were included. Thirteen patients classified as Eaton stage 3 underwent suspension arthroplasty and 13 patients as Eaton stage 2 underwent conservative treatment using a custom fitted orthosis. Clinical evaluation was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire Score (QuickDASH) at initial evaluation, at 1 month and at 3 months after treatment. We compared both groups using the PCS and YG test. Results: The PCS showed significant difference in the VAS scores only at initial evaluation in both surgical and conservative treatment. There was a significant difference in VAS at 3 months between the two groups in both surgical and conservative treatment and in QuickDASH at 3 months in conservative treatment. Conclusions: The YG test has been used mainly in psychiatry. Although this test has not yet been used worldwide, its usefulness has been recognised and applied clinically, especially in Asia. Patient characteristics are strongly associated with residual pain of the CMC joint arthritis of the thumb. The YG test is a useful tool to analyse pain-related patient characteristics and can be utilised to determine the therapeutic modalities and most effective rehabilitation programme for pain control. Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic)