Minimizing Wound-related Pain

Abstract

Acute wound-related pain (WRP) has a protective role. It alerts the body to damage and promotes rest to allow tissue regeneration. However, chronic WRP such as hyperalgesia and allodynia reduces patients' quality of life and negatively affects wound healing. Healthcare professionals have to understand the physiology of pain and recognize the differences between acute and chronic WRP.
Although patients' most important concern is the relief of pain, WRP is often underestimated and considered to be a lower priority than other wound healing issues. “Principles of best practice Minimizing pain at dressing-related procedures: Implementation of pain relieving strategies” was published in 2007 in preparation for the World Union of Wound Healing Societies' Congress 2008. It presents ten consensus statements involving strategies for minimizing pain during dressing-related procedures. Through each statement, this article describes how WRP can be reduced by employing a combination of accurate assessment, suitable dressing choices, skilled wound management, and pharmacological / non-pharmacological approaches.