Pain in neurosurgically treated patients: a prospective observational study

This is the first observational study to compare perioperative pain character and intensity in patients undergoing different types of elective neurosurgical procedures.

A structured questionnaire was used to inquire about pain intensity, character, and management during the perioperative course, and the anticipated visual analogue scale (VAS) score in 649 patients during a 1-year period. The anticipated maximal postoperative VAS score was lower than the actual postoperative maximal VAS score and was independent of operation type and preoperative VAS score. Patients undergoing craniotomy experienced less pain than those undergoing spinal surgery. A majority of patients did not receive analgesic medication after surgery. Patients undergoing spinal surgery experienced higher preoperative VAS scores than those undergoing other neurosurgical treatments, with a shift from preoperative referred pain to postoperative local pain. After lumbar flavectomy, referred pain was greater than local pain. Patients with preoperative pain suffered significantly more postoperative pain than those without preoperative pain. In patients with postoperative surgery-related complications, VAS scores were higher than in those without complications.

Neurosurgical procedures cause more pain than anticipated. Anticipated pain intensity is independent of the operation type and preoperative pain intensity. Postcraniotomy on-demand analgesic medication is appropriate, if the nurses on the ward react quickly. Otherwise, patient-controlled analgesia might be an option. Other neurosurgical procedures require scheduled analgesic therapies. Spinal surgery requires intensive preoperative pain treatment; a shift in pain character from preoperative referred pain to postoperative local pain is expected. Patients with referred pain after lumbar flavectomy are prone to the most intense pain. Patients with preoperative pain experience more postoperative pain than those without preoperative pain and require more intensive pain management. Increased postoperative VAS scores are associated with surgery-related complications.