Chronic Knee Pain While Awaiting Arthroplasty Is Associated With Worsening Joint-specific Function, Health-Related Quality Of Life And Personal Wellbeing, And Increased Use Of Opioid Analgesia

Description

In this episode of AI Talks with Bone & Joint, hosts Simon and Amy delve into a significant study exploring the implications of chronic knee pain for patients awaiting arthroplasty. The discussion centers on research published in March 2025 by N D. Clement and colleagues, which highlights alarming trends: 77.9% of participants reported chronic knee pain after one year on the waiting list. The study emphasizes the detrimental effects on joint-specific function, overall quality of life, and the increased reliance on opioid analgesia among these patients. The hosts review the methodology, which involved questionnaires assessing pain levels, wellbeing, and medication use among 217 individuals, and discuss the serious mental health implications revealed by the data, including increased anxiety and reduced life satisfaction. They point out that identifying at-risk patients early can aid in prioritizing surgical interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and potentially reducing healthcare costs significantly. The episode concludes with a call for attention to the excessive wait times and the need for systemic changes in the management of knee pain related to arthroplasty.

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