Psychosocial risk factors and physical and mental well-being following a compensable knee injury

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the association between a cumulative number of psychosocial factors and pain, physical disability, mental well-being, clinical examination, and work status following a compensable knee injury. Methods This study involved a secondary analysis of electronic data of consecutive injured workers. Pain and functional difficulty were measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), respectively. Anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results Data of 150 patients, 47 (31%) females and 103 (69%) males, mean age = 47 (13) were analysed. The cumulative number of psychosocial factors had a statistically significant relationship with LEFS (p = 0.0003), anxiety (p = 0.0001), depression (p < 0.0001), knee flexion (p = 0.02), knee extension (p = 0.005), and work status (p = 0.042). Conclusions The presence of three or more psychosocial risk factors following a knee injury is an indication of higher levels of mental and physical disability and poorer work status. The positive association between psychosocial flag signs and clinical examination merits a bio-psychosocial approach in workers with knee injuries.