The 6-Month Progression of Pain Catastrophizing in an Acute ACL Population

An abstract of a study by Jochimsen et al evaluating pain catastrophizing via the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) during the first six months following index anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) in a young, active population is presented. Significant differences were observed between initial (9.9 ± 9.9) and 2 weeks post-injury (4.1 ± 6.6), and initial and day of surgery (2.4 ± 3.9), demonstrating decreasing scores on the PCS from onset of injury to surgery (P < 0.005). Following surgery (6.5 ± 5.7) PCS scores were significantly increased compared to day of surgery (P = .009). PCS scores were decreased at 6-months (.46 ± 1.5) when compared to 2 weeks post-surgery (P = .000). There was no sex difference.