Use of the faces pain scale to evaluate pain of a pediatric patient with pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The Faces Pain Scale developed by Wong and Baker is a common assessment tool that uses cartoon-like faces to assess self-reported pain in children. The purpose of this case report is to explore the appropriateness of the Faces Pain Scale as an outcome measure for a young child with pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The patient was a four-year-old boy who had undergone a synovectomy on his right knee secondary to pauciarticular JRA. Each session the patient was asked to rate his pain using the Faces Pain Scale. The patient gained full knee range of motion and his functional mobility improved compared to initial visit. His subjective pain rating remained constant at "no hurt" throughout three weeks of visits. His functional mobility did not match his subjective rating of pain via the Faces Pain Scale. Further research is needed to determine the relationship of pain, stiffness, and function in children with rheumatic diseases.