PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN PATIENTS WHO UNDERWENT MEDIAN STERNOTOMY-A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Abstract

Background: One third of post patients experience moderate to severe chronic nonanginal postoperative pain (CPOP) and its management remains a challenge despite modern pharmaceutical preparations and new invasive and non-invasive pain –allaying techniques. Physiotherapy plays a major role in cardio-thoracic rehabilitation from the pre-operative period to postoperative period. Cardiac Rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that helps to improve the health and social well-being of people.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in patients who underwent cardio-thoracic surgery. PROCEDURE: Study design was non-experimental and study type was observational. 53 patients who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected conveniently for the study after obtaining informed consent. Nordic questionnaire is used as an outcome measure to identify the pain in post-operative patients.

Results: Highest pain was reported in upper back (94.3)% region followed by shoulder (37.7)%lower back (26.4)% and neck (24.5)%, region when patients were assessed on 7th post-operative day by using Nordic questionnaire.

Conclusion: This study concludes that there was a prevalence of upper back pain when compare to other regions and has showed the least prevalence of pain in elbow, wrist and hand.

Keywords: Median sternotomy patients, Musculoskeletal pain, Nordic questionnaire.