[Organisation of acute pain therapy]

Orthopaedic and traumatized patients often suffer from severe pain after surgery or trauma. Their early recovery also depends on an efficient acute pain relief based on a combination of systemic medication, local drug application and physical therapy. In 2007, new guidelines for the treatment of perioperative and traumatic pain were published. Based on these guidelines standard operating procedures for each hospital should be developed and implemented. Courses on analgesic concepts should be offered regularly for the involved staff. It is helpful to establish an acute pain service for daily rounds and documentation. The individual patient should be informed about his specific acute pain therapy before the operation. Pain scores should be frequently documented by the patient.