Influence of the emotional response to surgery on functional recovery during 6 months after hip arthroplasty

We examined whether the emotional response to hip arthroplasty predicted fu nctional recovery after controlling for preoperative function and surgical trauma. Mood and fatigue were measured in 102 consecutive patients preopera tively and 3 days postoperatively. Time of achievement of functional milest ones indicated recovery in hospital, and functional status was measured pre operatively and 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Circulating C-reactive prot ein and interleukin-6 levels indicated trauma. Recovery in hospital was slo wer in patients with greater trauma. Recovery at follow-rip was slower in p atients with poorer preoperative function and with greater anxiety and fati gue, but the apparent influence of anxiety was explained by its association with preoperative function and fatigue. Whereas short-term recovery is pre dicted by surgical trauma, long-term recovery is predicted by preexisting f unction and the emotional response to surgery. However; the influence of th e emotional response is small and the important aspect of emotion is fatigu e rather than anxiety.