Chronic

post-surgical There

pain (CPSP)
are multiple
pre-, intra- and
post-operative
risk factors for
the development
CPSP is a significant problem of CPSP, such
affecting millions of patients as:3,4
each year, with pain lasting
for months or years
post-procedure1,2
Comorbidities
The development of CPSP is complex and multifactorial;
it is thought to involve the interplay of:5

Minor versus
major surgery
Patient factors Inflammatory and Choice of surgical,
immune responses anaesthetic and
to tissue and nerve analgesic techniques
damage applied5

Strategy
Diagnosis of CPSP is made if of managing
pain localised to the surgical post-surgical
field or within the nerve territory pain
has persisted for 3–6 months
post-surgery and other causes
of pain have been excluded1

1. Correl D. F1000Res. 2017;6:1054. 2. Macrae WA. Br J Anaesth. 2008;101:77–86. 3. Richards

A. Management of chronic post-surgical pain: an overview. In: Australian Medical Student Date of preparation: May 2020
Journal. 2017. Available at: https://www.amsj.org/archives/6110. Accessed May 2020. 4. M-N/A-HQ-05-20-0004
Searle RD & Simpson KH. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain. 2010;10:12–14. 5. Bruce J &
Quinlan J. Rev Pain. 2011;5:23–9.