Association of Claustrophobia and Anxiety with Cast Intolerance in Patients with Extremity Injuries

ConclusionsOur hypothesis was not supported. Although we did not find a relationship between claustrophobia and cast intolerance, we did find significant correlations between anxiety and pain. The tolerant group ’s initial and final pain scores had significantly positive correlations to final anxiety, suggesting that pain is likely to cause or increase anxiety; indeed, as pain decreased, so did anxiety. The intolerant group, however, had a significant negative correlation between initial pain and final an xiety scores. It would not be expected that lower pain scores would increase anxiety. This may suggest that cast-intolerant patients experience or report their anxiety as pain. These findings may explain why some patients suffer from pain that cannot be explained by an underlying physiologic process and is resistant to traditional pain management. A multidisciplinary approach, including psychological and psychosocial assessments, may help identify nonphysiologic components to pain. An accurate diagnosis for the cause of pain may lead to nonpharmacological interventions and therefore reduce opi oid use and overall costs and improve patient outcomes.
Source: HSS Journal - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research