Pain and Opioid use Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Psycho-Social Factors are More Predictive Than Pharmacogenomics

Abstract

Background

This prospective, observational study was designed to assess the phenotype variation of the genes associated with pain and opioid use following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in comparison to psycho-social elements.

Methods

Preoperative demographic data and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-43 scores were obtained on 305 elective TKA patients. Patient visual analog scale pain scores and opioid use were extracted from the hospital record. Following discharge, participants completed a daily log of visual analog scale pain score, and medications used over 30 days. Pharmacogenomic testing was performed for three genes, CYP2D6, COMT, and OPRM1, which are involved in the opioid pathway and pain modulation.

Results

Other than increased pain seen in the COMT high activity group while in the hospital, none of the phenotype variations of the three genes were significantly associated with the participants' pain or opioid use. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-43 domains of pain interference and anxiety were significantly associated with pain and opioid use using multiple logistic regression.

Conclusions

Pharmacogenomic testing in this study was not predictive of pain and opioid use following TKA compared with psycho-social variables.