Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

ICS Travel Awards Introduction: Persistent pain and psychological distress is common after traumatic musculoskeletal injury (TMI) and these individuals are often young, do not recover quickly, and create a large economic burden on society. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence of persistent pain and association with psychological distress following TMI. Methods: Research databases were searched. Prospective, non-interventional studies measuring the prevalence of pain associated with TMI close to the time of injury and again at one-month or more post-injury were included. Studies measuring adult anxiety, depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in addition to pain were also included. Results: The search revealed 4,388 studies. Only six studies examined persistent pain and met inclusion criteria. Five of the 6 studies also included an outcome of anxiety, depression and/or PTSD. Pain was assessed with a measure of pain intensity or pain incidence in 5 studies and/or as part of a more general quality of life questionnaire in 3 studies. Two of the five studies assessed pain, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Significant associations were established between pain and anxiety/depression (4 studies; all p < 0.01), and pain and PTSD (3 studies; all p < 0.01). Overall, persistent pain was reported by all studies at variable time points up to 36 months post-injury. Conclusions: Persistent pain is prevalent up to 36 months following TMI and is associated with anxiety, depression and PTSD. Research is needed to identify risk factors, which will allow clinicians to screen and identify high-risk patients in order to institute early treatments to prevent or modify the course of poor outcomes. These steps are essential for developing and implementing targeted study trials aimed at decreasing negative outcomes that effect many patients worldwide following TMI.