Comparison of DN4 and DN4 Interview Tests in the Identification of Neuropathic Pain after Fracture Surgery

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare results obtained with the DN4 (in-person interview) and DN4i (telephone interview) questionnaires in identifying neuropathic pain after fracture surgery.

Methods: This study was methodological, using questionnaires administered in person (DN4) or via telephone (DN4i). The participants were at least 18 years old, underwent fracture surgery at a university hospital between January 2017 and July 2020, signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF), and could go to the Orthopedics and Traumatology Hospital. Pearson's correlation coefficient determined the agreement between the total score obtained during in-person and telephone interviews. The kappa coefficient evaluated the agreement between individual questionnaire items.

Results: Of the 53 participants, 50 presented the same result for neuropathic pain screening in DN4 and DN4i, including 41 with a positive score for neuropathic pain and 12 with a negative score. The Pearson's correlation coefficient and kappa coefficient were r = 0.84.

Conclusion: DN4 and DN4i presented a strong agreement between individual items of the questionnaires and the total scores obtained.

Keywords

complex regional pain syndromes - fracture fixation - interview, telephone - pain - surveys and questionnaires

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