Analysis of influencing factors of chronic pain in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of chronic pain after anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)reconstruction. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and 3-month postoperative follow-up data of 1,109 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of chronic pain. Results: The prevalence of chronic pain 3 months after ACL reconstruction surgery was 21.46%(238/1,109). Differences in gender, age, marital status, body mass index, surgical mode, preoperative knee synovitis, admission thrombosis risk score, number of moderate to severe pain episodes(within 3 days postoperatively),joint effusion, tourniquet use duration, knee joint mobility at 3 months postoperatively, presence or absence of wound drainage tube, presence or absence of chronic diseases, whether to adhere to rehabilitation exercise plan,and presence or absence of swelling of the operated limb at 3 months postoperatively were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age≥40 years, body mass index≥24 kg/m², inpatient surgery, frequent moderate to severe pain, presence of wound drainage tube, tourniquet usage duration≥100 minutes, non-adherence to rehabilitation exercise plan, and knee joint swelling at 3 months postoperatively were independent risk factors for chronic pain after ACL reconstruction surgery(all P<0.05). Conclusion: Frequent moderate to severe pain, presence of wound drainage tube postoperatively, tourniquet usage≥100 minutes, non-adherence to rehabilitation exercise plan, and knee joint swelling at 3 months postoperatively are independent risk factors for chronic pain after ACL reconstruction surgery, with a higher incidence of chronic pain.