It still hurts! Persistent pain and use of pain medication one year after injury
Document Type
Article
Department
General Surgery
Abstract
Background: Given the scarce literature data on chronic post-traumatic pain, we aim to identify early predictors of long-term pain and pain medication use after major trauma.
Methods: Major trauma patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 9) from three Level I Trauma Centers at 12 months after injury were interviewed for daily pain using the Trauma Quality of Life questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression models identified patient- and injury-related independent predictors of pain and use of pain medication.
Results: Of 1238 patients, 612 patients (49%) felt daily pain and 300 patients (24%) used pain medication 1 year after injury. Of a total of 8 independent predictors for chronic pain and 9 independent predictors for daily pain medication, 4 were common (pre-injury alcohol use, pre-injury drug use, hospital stay ≥ 5 days, and education limited to high school). Combinations of independent predictors yielded weak predictability for both outcomes, ranging from 20% to 72%.
Conclusions: One year after injury, approximately half of trauma patients report daily pain and one-fourth use daily pain medication. These outcomes are hard to predict.
Publication (Name of Journal)
The American Journal of Surgery
Recommended Citation
Velmahos, C. S.,
Herrera-Escobar, J. P.,
Al Rafai, S. S.,
Fat, S. C.,
Kaafarani, H.,
Nehra, D.,
Kasotakis, G.,
Salim, A.,
Haider, A. H.
(2019). It still hurts! Persistent pain and use of pain medication one year after injury. The American Journal of Surgery, 218(5), 864-868.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_surg_gen/438