Psychosocial Factors, Sleep, and Central Pain Processing for Making a Prognosis About Recovery of Pain, Function, and Quality of Life After Rotator Cuff Repair: An Exploratory Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE: To explore modifiable psychosocial factors, sleep-related variables, indices of central pain processing and patients’ characteristics as potential prognostic factors for pain, shoulder function, and quality of life (QoL) 1 year after rotator cuff repair. DESIGN: This observational longitudinal study included 142 patients who were undergoing rotator cuff repair. All measures took place pre–rotator cuff repair (T0), and 12 weeks (T1) and 12 months (T2) after rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Mixed-effects linear regression modeled relationships between the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC, model A), the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV, model B), and EuroQol’s EQ-5D-5L for QoL (model C), and potential prognostic factors over time. Factors included psychosocial variables, sleep-related indices, and proxies of central pain processing. Patients’ age, sex, and body mass index complemented the analyses. RESULTS: At follow-up (T2), data from 124 participants were available for analysis. Five prognostic factors were identified for the 1-year outcome. Better expectations for symptom reduction ( P<.0001, −1.4 mm) and an increase in Douleur Neuropathique 4 score ( P = .0481, −0.9 mm) affected the evolution of WORC over time (model A). An increase in injury perception subscale consequence ( P = .0035, 0.04%) influenced the SSV trajectory (model B). In addition, when sleep quality ( P = .0011, −0.13%) and sleep efficiency ( P = .0002, 0.005%) improved, the EQ-5D-5L slope was affected (model C). CONCLUSION: Addressing cognitions, pain mechanisms and sleep behavior prior to rotator cuff repair can identify people who are at risk of a poor outcome after surgery. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(8):530-540. Epub 4 July 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12398