Treatment strategies for chronic postsurgical pain

Abstract

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a serious surgical complication that can impair patient quality of life. Understanding the pathology of CPSP is challenging because CPSP is induced by a complex mechanism that involves surgical, individual, psychological, and social–environmental risk factors. Although previous studies have reported the effects of various interventions (preventive analgesia, nerve blockade, and surgical approach), further studies are needed for the development of an optimal CPSP treatment. A simple evaluation and multiple pain evaluations that involve psychological factors and quality of life assessments are necessary. We recently conducted a study that objectively evaluated the risks and pathological conditions associated with CPSP using advanced methods, which included genetic technologies and magnetic resonance imaging.