Key result
Female sex was associated with higher reported pain scores in the initial 6 weeks and higher opioid consumption following orthopedic surgery, while men tended to have better surgical outcomes.
Why the study?
Postoperative pain remains common after orthopedic surgery and biological sex is a key factor, but little data is available examining post-operative pain scores between the sexes.
Does biological sex impact post-operative pain scores and surgical outcomes following orthopedic surgery procedures?
Does biological sex impact post-operative pain scores and surgical outcomes following orthopedic surgery procedures?
Women experience higher post-operative pain and opioid consumption compared to men following orthopedic surgery, highlighting the need to consider biological sex in post-operative care.
May inform sex-specific pain strategies in orthopedic patients; leaves open need for prospective validation before practice change.
Background/Objective: Post-operative pain is frequently experienced by patients following orthopedic surgery procedures despite improved surgical technology and anesthesia techniques. The intensity of postoperative pain is multifactorial and biological sex is a key component of pain analysis. In this review article, the authors examine the impact of biological sex on post-operative pain scores and surgical outcomes following orthopedic surgery procedures. Methods: A keyword-based search of the National Library of Medicine and the National Center for Biotechnology Information was utilized for this review. Through our literature search we identified 56 articles related to the impact of sex on post-operative pain. These studies were then tabulated and analyzed in detail to provide data for this review article. Results: There are a variety of factors that influence surgical outcomes in orthopedics including age, comorbidities, and biological sex. The reviewed studies found that women report higher pain scores in the initial 6 wk post-operative period after total joint arthroplasty, upper extremity surgery, spine surgery, and general orthopedic surgery. Female sex was also associated with higher opioid consumption following surgery. In addition, men tend to have better surgical outcomes following total joint arthroplasty, upper extremity procedures, and spine surgery. Discussion/Conclusion: Biological differences including hormones, anatomy, and psychosocial factors influence post-operative pain differences between sexes. Little data is available on orthopedic surgery post-operative pain scores between the sexes and therefore further research is needed. Biological sex must be considered when evaluating patient wellness following orthopedic surgery procedures.
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Allen et al. (2024) conducted a review in Post-operative pain following orthopedic surgery. Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on Post-operative pain scores and surgical outcomes. Female sex was associated with higher reported pain scores in the initial 6 weeks and higher opioid consumption following orthopedic surgery, while men tended to have better surgical outcomes.
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