Chronic postsurgical pain following thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Chronic postsurgical pain is well recognized after major surgical procedures but often overlooked following thyroidectomy. Given the increasing frequency of this surgery, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize current evidence on the incidence, characteristics, and modulating factors of chronic postsurgical pain after thyroidectomy (CPPT).

A systematic search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines across 3 electronic databases. Two independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model to estimate pooled incidence rates of CPPT and neuropathic pain. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also conducted.

After duplicate removal, 241 records were screened, of which 16 studies encompassing 1538 patients met the inclusion criteria. All included studies demonstrated a low risk of bias. The pooled incidence of CPPT at 3 months postoperatively was 18.4%. The pooled incidence of neuropathic pain was 40.9% at 3 months and 9.5% at 6 months postoperatively.

The pooled incidence of CPPT was 18.4% at 3 months after thyroidectomy. Neuropathic pain was reported in 40.9% of patients at 3 months and 9.5% at 6 months. Substantial heterogeneity, particularly in the 3-month neuropathic pain estimate, warrants cautious interpretation. These findings highlight CPPT as a clinically relevant but underrecognized complication and support the need for standardized prospective research.