Researchers of a recent study investigated the relationship between functional somatic syndromes (FSSs) such as irritable bowel syndrome and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), postoperative opioid consumption, and hospitalization costs after shoulder and elbow surgery. Findings revealed that patients with FSSs experienced significantly greater pain scores and lower quality of recovery in PROMs after surgery. Additionally, they consumed more opioids postoperatively and had higher healthcare costs. Despite inferior PROMs compared to patients without FSSs, patients with FSSs still showed improvements in PROMs compared to their baseline. The study highlights the importance of considering FSSs in postoperative care and management.
Reference: Masood R, Mandalia K, Moverman MA, et al. Patients With Functional Somatic Syndromes-Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Headaches, and Chronic Low Back Pain-Have Lower Outcomes and Higher Opioid Usage and Cost After Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Arthroscopy. 2023 Jun;39(6):1529-1538. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2022.12.028. Epub 2022 Dec 30. PMID: 36592697.
