Acute Postoperative Pain in Trauma Patients - The Fifth Vital Sign

To determine average pain intensity perceived by trauma patients at hospital admission, lowest and highest pain intensity during their hospitalisation and their satisfaction with provided pain treatment.

The research included 114 operated patients at the Clinical Department of Trauma Surgery. We used the standard Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for a clinical measure of pain.

The average pain intensity at hospital admission was NRS median 7 (range 4-10), the severest perceived rate of pain during hospitalisation was NRS median 5 (range 4-7). Ninety-four percent of our respondents were satisfied with provided pain treatment. Thirty-two percent of patients were not asked to assess their pain during their hospitalisation, and 40.4% of patients assessed their pain occasionally.

Female patients, as well as patients admitted to the emergency department, reported higher NRS scores. Those respondents who perceived severe pain answered more often that medical staff didn't ask them to assess their pain on any occasion. Good communication between medical staff and patients, together with adequate assessment and evaluation of acute pain are of great importance in its treatment.