Is chronic post-herniorrhaphy pain always chronic? A literature review

• Main Author: Sandblom G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2015-05-01
• Series: Journal of Pain Research
• Online Access: http://www.dovepress.com/is-chronic-post-herniorrhaphy-pain-always-chronic-a-literature-review-peer-reviewed-article-JPR

Gabriel Sandblom Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden Introduction: Chronic post-surgery pain (CPSP) has gained increased recognition as a major factor influencing health-related quality-of-life following most surgical procedures, in particular following surgery for benign conditions. The natural course of CPSP, however, is not well-known. Methods: A literature review was undertaken, searching for studies with repeated estimates of post-herniorrhaphy pain. The hypothetical halvation time was calculated from the repeat estimates. Results: Eight studies fulfilling the criteria were identified. With one exception, the extrapolated halvation times ranged from 1.3 to 9.2 years. Discussion: Even if CPSP is generally very treatment-resistant, in many cases it eventually dissipates with time. Further studies are required to evaluate the prevalence of pain beyond the first decade. Keywords: hernia, pain, chronic post-surgery pain, neuropathic pain, halvation time