Chronic Postsurgical Pain

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is defined as a persistent pain state that exists more than 2 months postoperatively and cannot be explained by other causes such as recurrence of disease, apparent inflammation, or other nonsurgical related factors. CPSP is a type of persistent pain condition that often complicates recovery from surgical procedures. It is thought to be caused by surgical nerve injury, but the fact that an identifiable nerve injury can be found in only one-third of CPSP patients suggests that the problem may be far more complex than a simple surgically created nerve injury. Certain surgical procedures report a high incidence of CPSP, helping to isolate likely candidates for this problem, but instituting preventative measures and identifying a treatable source of pain continues to be elusive. Some progress has been made in the areas of prevention and treatment.