Orthopedic Surgery, Pain, and Disability

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Video Runtime: 70 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 29 Minutes

Orthopedic surgery is very common, and current data shows it’s ever increasing. Unfortunately, it is now well established that approximately one in four patients still experience persistent pain and disability after orthopedic surgery. Unfortunately, postoperative rehabilitation has done little to help ease that pain and disability. In line with this data, pain scientists turned their attention to various perioperative factors associated with poor surgical outcomes, such as pain beliefs, fear avoidance, catastrophizing, etc., to determine if targeting these psychosocial issues may in fact yield superior results. Through a series of studies, a preoperative pain neuroscience education program was developed for patients undergoing lumbar surgery. This course showcases the evolution, development, and final build of the preoperative pain neuroscience education program for orthopedic surgery, starting specifically with lumbar surgery. This course applies to all clinicians who work with patients in all clinical settings who have or will be experiencing an orthopedic surgery.

Meet your instructor

Adriaan Louw

Adriaan earned his undergraduate degree, master’s degree, and PhD in physiotherapy from Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an adjunct faculty member at St. Ambrose University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, teaching pain science. Adriaan has taught throughout the US and internationally for 25…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Current Landscape of Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgery rates are ever increasing, and approximately one in four patients still experience significant pain and disability following surgery. Postoperative rehabilitation offers minimal support in reducing this postoperative pain and disability. It is believed that various issues surrounding the perioperative period related to anxiety and fear fuel postoperative pain and disability.

2. Pain Science and Orthopedic Surgery

Sensitization of the nervous system (both peripheral and central), fear avoidance, catastrophizing, and poor beliefs are powerful predictors of orthopedic surgery outcomes. More and more evidence supports the notion of viewing orthopedic surgery from a pain science perspective versus the traditional biomedical model.

3. Development of a Preoperative Pain Neuroscience Program for Lumbar Surgery

Scientists recently went through a systematic process of developing a preoperative pain neuroscience education program for lumbar surgery. Using metaphors, examples, and images, clinicians are able to teach patients undergoing lumbar surgery more about their pain experience during the perioperative period.

More courses in this series

The Biopsychosocial Approach in Athletes Experiencing Pain

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The Brain, Athletes, and Sports Performance

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