The “Top 10” Psychosocial Factors Affecting Orthopaedic Outcomes

Introduction: Many patients within the orthopaedic population experience 1 or more psychosocial issues that may profoundly affect their postoperative outcomes after orthopaedic surgery. Despite the common nature of these factors, there is a paucity of literature describing their effect on orthopaedic outcomes. The purpose of this review was to describe the anecdotal 10 most-encountered psychosocial factors in our patient population, their described influence on orthopaedic outcomes, and how they may be addressed. These factors include expectations, fear of reinjury, socioeconomic status, social support, allergies, addiction, depression and anxiety, resilience, self-efficacy, and other mental health disorders. Methods: A thorough review of the PubMed-indexed literature was conducted using each one of our psychosocial factors described here combined with the key words “orthopaedic outcome.” Study Design: This was a clinical review paper. Level of Evidence: Not applicable. Results: These 10 psychosocial influences have dramatic effects on the recovery and outcomes after orthopaedic procedures. Patients benefit from early recognition and management of these issues before and after surgery. Conclusions: Each of the psychosocial factors reviewed in this paper has a significant influence on outcomes after orthopaedic surgery. A strong understanding of these factors and how to address them will aid orthopaedic surgeons in maximizing postoperative outcomes for their patients. Further research is necessary to improve our treatment strategies for this complex patient population.