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Toda cirurgia implica em lesão de tecidos, manipulação de estruturas e órgãos, sendo a dor uma conseqüência desse processo, que pode, porém, ser minimizada. O presente estudo tem como objetivos caracterizar o processo de manejo da dor aguda na criança no período pós-operatório a partir dos registros contidos nos seus prontuários, identificar como as enfermeiras cuidam das crianças com dor no período pós-operatório e quais fatores influenciam sua prática. Para tanto, foram analisados, retrospectivamente, os registros sobre dor pós-operatória de 300 prontuários de 280 crianças de 0 a 14 anos submetidas à cirurgia no ano de 2004 em três hospitais de uma cidade do interior do Paraná. Também foram ouvidas, por meio de entrevista, as 15 enfermeiras que trabalhavam nas unidades pediátricas dos três hospitais. A caracterização do manejo da dor a partir dos registros dos prontuários indicou a existência de poucos registros sobre dor pós-operatória realizados por enfermeiras, sendo que a grande maioria deles foi realizada por auxiliares ou técnicos de enfermagem, com alguma variação entre os hospitais pesquisados. Procedeu-se a análise qualitativa dos dados, os quais foram agrupados ao redor de três temas: as experiências de dor e suas repercussões; a atuação da enfermeira no manejo da dor pós-operatória; formação, aquisição e disseminação de conhecimentos sobre dor pediátrica. O estudo mostrou que as enfermeiras avaliam a dor pós-operatória de forma assistemática e, em geral, limitam-se ao controle farmacológico da dor. Realizam o manejo da dor na dependência da conduta e prescrição médicas, utilizando forma limitada as estratégias não-farmacológicas de alívio. Demonstraram interesse em ampliar seus conhecimentos na área e na formação de grupos de dor nas instituições em que trabalham. Consideramos que os resultados do estudo podem provocar a discussão do tema nos hospitais pesquisados e, numa visão otimista, podem contribuir para deflagrar e estimular a implementação da avaliação sistematizada da dor em crianças e adolescentes nesses locais. / ABSTRACT TACLA, T. G. M. Care of children with post-operative pain: Pediatric nurses experiences. 2006. 251p. PhD Dissertation ¾ Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto. Universidade de São Paulo, 2006. All surgical procedures involve tissue lesions, manipulation of structures and organs, causing pain which can be minimized during the process. The objectives of this study are to characterize the process of managing post-operative acute pain in children based on their medical records, to identify how nurses care for children in pain during the post-operative period, and which factors affect their practices. The study evaluated 300 medical records on post-operative pain of 280 children, 0-4 y. o., who underwent surgery in 2004, in 3 hospitals located in a city in the interior of the state of Paraná. An interview with 15 nurses who worked in the Pediatric Ward of these hospitals was also carried out. Characterization of pain management from the medical records revealed that only a few nurses make notes of post-operative pain, and that the majority of the records were made by nursing aides and technicians, with some variations among the researched hospitals. Data were analyzed qualitatively and grouped into three topics: the experiences of pain and its consequences, nurses? performance during post-operative pain management, and pediatric pain knowledge development, acquisition and dissemination. Results from the study showed that nurses evaluate post-operative pain a-systematically, which, in general, is limited to pharmacological pain control. Their management depends on the doctor?s prescription, thus using limited non-pharmacological pain-relief strategies. They show interest in broadening their knowledge in the area and in developing pain groups in their institutions. We believe that the results from this study may generate a discussion on the topic in these hospitals, and, consequently, contribute to the implementation of a systematic evaluation of pain in children and adolescents in these places.

Toda cirurgia implica em lesão de tecidos, manipulação de estruturas e órgãos, sendo a dor uma conseqüência desse processo, que pode, porém, ser minimizada. O presente estudo tem como objetivos caracterizar o processo de manejo da dor aguda na criança no período pós-operatório a partir dos registros contidos nos seus prontuários, identificar como as enfermeiras cuidam das crianças com dor no período pós-operatório e quais fatores influenciam sua prática. Para tanto, foram analisados, retrospectivamente, os registros sobre dor pós-operatória de 300 prontuários de 280 crianças de 0 a 14 anos submetidas à cirurgia no ano de 2004 em três hospitais de uma cidade do interior do Paraná. Também foram ouvidas, por meio de entrevista, as 15 enfermeiras que trabalhavam nas unidades pediátricas dos três hospitais. A caracterização do manejo da dor a partir dos registros dos prontuários indicou a existência de poucos registros sobre dor pós-operatória realizados por enfermeiras, sendo que a grande maioria deles foi realizada por auxiliares ou técnicos de enfermagem, com alguma variação entre os hospitais pesquisados. Procedeu-se a análise qualitativa dos dados, os quais foram agrupados ao redor de três temas: as experiências de dor e suas repercussões; a atuação da enfermeira no manejo da dor pós-operatória; formação, aquisição e disseminação de conhecimentos sobre dor pediátrica. O estudo mostrou que as enfermeiras avaliam a dor pós-operatória de forma assistemática e, em geral, limitam-se ao controle farmacológico da dor. Realizam o manejo da dor na dependência da conduta e prescrição médicas, utilizando forma limitada as estratégias não-farmacológicas de alívio. Demonstraram interesse em ampliar seus conhecimentos na área e na formação de grupos de dor nas instituições em que trabalham. Consideramos que os resultados do estudo podem provocar a discussão do tema nos hospitais pesquisados e, numa visão otimista, podem contribuir para deflagrar e estimular a implementação da avaliação sistematizada da dor em crianças e adolescentes nesses locais. / ABSTRACT TACLA, T. G. M. Care of children with post-operative pain: Pediatric nurses experiences. 2006. 251p. PhD Dissertation ¾ Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto. Universidade de São Paulo, 2006. All surgical procedures involve tissue lesions, manipulation of structures and organs, causing pain which can be minimized during the process. The objectives of this study are to characterize the process of managing post-operative acute pain in children based on their medical records, to identify how nurses care for children in pain during the post-operative period, and which factors affect their practices. The study evaluated 300 medical records on post-operative pain of 280 children, 0-4 y. o., who underwent surgery in 2004, in 3 hospitals located in a city in the interior of the state of Paraná. An interview with 15 nurses who worked in the Pediatric Ward of these hospitals was also carried out. Characterization of pain management from the medical records revealed that only a few nurses make notes of post-operative pain, and that the majority of the records were made by nursing aides and technicians, with some variations among the researched hospitals. Data were analyzed qualitatively and grouped into three topics: the experiences of pain and its consequences, nurses? performance during post-operative pain management, and pediatric pain knowledge development, acquisition and dissemination. Results from the study showed that nurses evaluate post-operative pain a-systematically, which, in general, is limited to pharmacological pain control. Their management depends on the doctor?s prescription, thus using limited non-pharmacological pain-relief strategies. They show interest in broadening their knowledge in the area and in developing pain groups in their institutions. We believe that the results from this study may generate a discussion on the topic in these hospitals, and, consequently, contribute to the implementation of a systematic evaluation of pain in children and adolescents in these places.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Literature on post-operative pain indicates that post-operative pain is inadequately managed in many countries including Ghana. Little was also known about post-operative pain (POP) response and management in Ghana. This study sought to describe post-operative pain response and management among Ghanaian surgical nurses and post-operative patients within the medico-socio-cultural context. It also explored factors that influenced POP response and management and subsequently aimed to develop clinical guidelines within which post-operative pain could be managed in the medico-socio-cultural context. Research questions answered included: „what are the factors influencing post-operative pain responses among surgical patients and nurses; what clinical guidelines would be appropriate to guide post-operative pain management within the medico-socio-cultural context of Ghana?‟The study was designed as a multi-step focused ethnography which allowed the exploration of a specific sub-culture such as the surgical environment. The philosophical underpinnings of ethnography permit the investigator to use different data collection methods to fully understand the phenomenon investigated. Data collection during the ethnographic exploration phase involved individual interviews, clinical observations, and review of patients‟ clinical charts. At the stage of guideline development, data was collected through participant/expert review, systematic literature review, and consensus forum. Participants were sampled purposively and included 53 interview participants, 27 expert reviewers, and 29 consensus panel members. Also, there were 16 sections of clinical observation and review of 44 charts. The participants included nurses, patients and their relatives, the multidisciplinary team, key informants, experts, and stakeholders. The study was conducted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and Ridge Hospital, in Accra, Ghana. Appropriate ethical clearance was sought and individual informed consent was obtained.Concurrent analysis of data was done applying the principles of thematic content analysis and data was managed with NVivo 9. Themes that emerged from the patients‟ data were subjectivism which described pain dimensions and expressions and factors that influenced patients‟ pain experience were psycho-socio-cultural factors such as personal inclinations and socio-cultural background; and health system factors such as personnel attitude and health financing.The study also found that nurses perceived POP as an individual phenomenon and responded to pain by administering analgesics and by employing non-pharmacologic measures such as positioning and reassurance. Factors that influenced the nurses‟ pain response were individual factors such as commitment, discretion, and fear of addiction; and organizational factors such as organizational laxity and challenges of teamwork. Patients‟ relatives were also influenced by empathy, faith, and commitment to care for their post-operative patients. The multidisciplinary team and key informants were influenced by knowledge and experience in their respective specialty areas. Subsequently, the clinical guideline developed had four dimensions which highlighted patient and family education,effective teamwork, effective leadership and monitoring, and use of contemporary evidence for POP management.The study recommended that health professionals should be conscious of the subjectivenature of pain and they should educate and involve the patient on pain management decisions. Also, hospital leadership and the multidisciplinary team should be actively involved in pain management.

Background: In light of the opioid epidemic, reducing excess prescription quantities while tailoring to patient need is key. We previously created an opioid prescribing guideline using retrospective institutional data to satisfy the majority of patients’ opioid needs following inpatient colorectal surgery. Objective: This study sought to prospectively validate an institutional prescribing guideline based on previously-defined opioid consumption patterns following inpatient colorectal operations. Methods: We carried out a cohort study comparing opioid prescribing and consumption patterns before (7/18 – 1/19) and after (9/19 – 2/20) adoption of a tiered opioid prescribing guideline for inpatient elective colorectal operations (colectomies, proctectomies, and ostomy reversals) at a single tertiary care medical center. Opioid use was quantified as Equianalgesic 5mg Oxycodone Pills (EOP), and patients were grouped in three tiers based on opioid consumption in the 24-hours prior to discharge: Tier 1 (0 EOP), Tier 2 (0.1-3 EOP), and Tier 3 (>3 EOP). Our guideline recommended maximum prescriptions of 0 EOP for Tier 1, 12 EOP for Tier 2, and 30 EOP for Tier 3. Results: The study included 100 patients before and 101 after guideline adoption. Demographic and operative variables were similar before and after guideline adoption. Guideline adherence was 85%. Overall, there was a 41% reduction in mean prescription quantity and 53% reduction in excess pills per prescription with no change in opioid consumption or refill rates. Conclusion: Adoption of a tiered opioid prescribing guideline significantly reduced opioid prescription quantity with no change in consumption or refill rates. Standardization of discharge prescriptions based on patient consumption in the 24 hours prior to discharge may be an important step towards minimizing excess prescribing.

La douleur post-opératoire chez les patients constitue un défi thérapeutique important pour les cliniciens. Le traitement de la douleur post-opératoire n’est pas accessoire ni optionnel, puisqu’il permet de donner un congé de l’hôpital plus rapide aux patients et ainsi, il contribue à des économies importantes pour notre système de santé. Parmi les approches thérapeutiques utilisées pour la prise en charge de la douleur post-opératoire, cette thèse s’intéresse particulièrement aux blocs de nerfs périphériques par les anesthésiques locaux et à l’administration de la néostigmine par voie épidurale. Ces médicaments sont utilisés en clinique sans avoir préalablement établi, en se basant sur leur propriétés pharmacocinétiques et pharmacodynamiques spécifiques, leurs doses optimales. Ces doses devraient également tenir en considération les particularités anatomiques du site d’injection par rapport au site d’action. Cette thèse inclut des études exploratoires qui ont contribué à caractériser la pharmacocinétique de la ropivacaïne et de la bupivacaïne ainsi que la pharmacocinétique et la pharmacodynamie de la néostigmine. La première étude portait sur seize patients subissant une chirurgie orthopédique avec un bloc combiné des nerfs fémoral et sciatique par la ropivacaïne (n=8) ou la bupivacaïne (n=8). C’était la première étude qui a inclu des temps d’échantillons pharmacocinétiques allant jusqu’à 32 h après le bloc et ces résultats ont démontré une variabilité interindividuelle considérable. La modélisation par approche de population a aidé à expliquer les sources de la variabilité et démontré que l’absorption systémique des anesthésiques locaux était très lente. De plus, les concentrations plasmatiques demeuraient mesurables, et dans certains cas présentaient un plateau, 32 h après le bloc. Dans les prochaines études, un échantillonnage allant jusqu’à 4 ou 5 jours sera nécessaire afin d’atteindre la fin de l’absorption. La deuxième étude a établi le développement d’un modèle animal en étudiant la pharmacocinétique de la ropivacaïne après administration intraveineuse ainsi que son degré de liaison aux protéines plasmatiques chez le lapin (n=6). Les résultats ont démontré que, chez le lapin la ropivacaïne est beaucoup moins liée aux protéines plasmatiques comparativement à l’humain. Ce résultat important sera utile pour planifier les prochaines études précliniques. La troisième étude a exploré, pour la première fois, la pharmacocinétique et la pharmacodynamie de la néostigmine administrée par voie épidurale et a essayé de caractériser la courbe dose-réponse en utilisant trois doses différentes : 0.5, 1 et 1.5 mg. Bien que les concentrations de la néostigmine dans le liquide céphalo-rachidien fussent très variables une relation inverse entre la consommation de mépéridine et la dose de néostigmine a été démontrée. La dose de 1.5 mg a donné une meilleure réponse pharmacodynamique sur la douleur, mais elle a été considérée comme dangereuse puisqu’elle a résulté en deux cas d’hypertension. Nous avons conclu que des doses plus faibles que 1.5 mg devront être utilisées lors de l’utilisation de la néostigmine par voie épidurale. En conclusion, les études rapportées dans cette thèse ont exploré les propriétés pharmacocinétiques et/ou pharmacodynamiques de certains médicaments utilisés pour le traitement de la douleur post-opératoire. Ceci mènera au but ultime qui est la meilleure prise en charge de la douleur post-opératoire chez les patients. / Post-operative pain in surgical patients remains a challenging problem for the clinicians. The treatment of post-operative pain is no longer an accessory or nice to have, since it can significantly shorten hospital stays and lead to important savings for our health system. Amongst the therapeutic approaches used in the management of post-operative pain, we will focus on peripheral nerve blocks with local anesthetics and epidural neostigmine. These drugs are currently used in the clinic, without the prior characterization of an optimal dose that took into consideration their specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Optimal doses will need to consider the specific regional anatomy of the site of drug administration with respect to the site of action. This thesis included exploratory studies that helped to characterize the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine and bupivacaine as well as the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of neostigmine. The first study included sixteen patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries with a combined femoral and sciatic nerve blocks technique using ropivacaine (n=8) or bupivacaine (n=8). The study was the first to include pharmacokinetic sampling up to 32 h after the block and results have shown that large between subject variability was present. Population modeling helped to explain and separate the various sources of variability and showed that systemic absorption was very slow. In addition, plasma concentrations were still measurable, and in some cases, plateaued at 32 h after the block. Future studies should extend sampling times to 4 or 5 days after the block in order to wait for the completion of the absorption. The second study attempted to establish an animal model by studying the intravenous pharmacokinetics and protein binding of ropivacaine in the rabbit (n=6). Results have shown that ropivacaine is much less bound to plasma protein in rabbits as compared to humans. This important information will be useful in future preclinical and clinical research. The third study explored, for the first time, the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of epidural neostigmine (n=15) and attempted to characterize the dose effect relationship by testing the following doses: 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg. Although the CSF pharmacokinetics of neostigmine were variable, a relationship between dose and meperidine consumption could be shown. The dose of 1.5 mg resulted in a better pharmacodynamic response on pain but it was deemed unsafe since it led to hypertension in two patients. We conclude that doses below 1.5 mg should be used for an epidural block with neostigmine. In conclusion, this research work investigated the pharmacokinetic and/or the pharmacodynamic characteristics of some drugs used for the treatment of post-operative pain. The gathered information will be essential to be able to reliably characterize the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships. This will help in achieving the ultimate goal which is a better management of post operative pain in surgical patients.

La douleur post-opératoire chez les patients constitue un défi thérapeutique important pour les cliniciens. Le traitement de la douleur post-opératoire n’est pas accessoire ni optionnel, puisqu’il permet de donner un congé de l’hôpital plus rapide aux patients et ainsi, il contribue à des économies importantes pour notre système de santé. Parmi les approches thérapeutiques utilisées pour la prise en charge de la douleur post-opératoire, cette thèse s’intéresse particulièrement aux blocs de nerfs périphériques par les anesthésiques locaux et à l’administration de la néostigmine par voie épidurale. Ces médicaments sont utilisés en clinique sans avoir préalablement établi, en se basant sur leur propriétés pharmacocinétiques et pharmacodynamiques spécifiques, leurs doses optimales. Ces doses devraient également tenir en considération les particularités anatomiques du site d’injection par rapport au site d’action. Cette thèse inclut des études exploratoires qui ont contribué à caractériser la pharmacocinétique de la ropivacaïne et de la bupivacaïne ainsi que la pharmacocinétique et la pharmacodynamie de la néostigmine. La première étude portait sur seize patients subissant une chirurgie orthopédique avec un bloc combiné des nerfs fémoral et sciatique par la ropivacaïne (n=8) ou la bupivacaïne (n=8). C’était la première étude qui a inclu des temps d’échantillons pharmacocinétiques allant jusqu’à 32 h après le bloc et ces résultats ont démontré une variabilité interindividuelle considérable. La modélisation par approche de population a aidé à expliquer les sources de la variabilité et démontré que l’absorption systémique des anesthésiques locaux était très lente. De plus, les concentrations plasmatiques demeuraient mesurables, et dans certains cas présentaient un plateau, 32 h après le bloc. Dans les prochaines études, un échantillonnage allant jusqu’à 4 ou 5 jours sera nécessaire afin d’atteindre la fin de l’absorption. La deuxième étude a établi le développement d’un modèle animal en étudiant la pharmacocinétique de la ropivacaïne après administration intraveineuse ainsi que son degré de liaison aux protéines plasmatiques chez le lapin (n=6). Les résultats ont démontré que, chez le lapin la ropivacaïne est beaucoup moins liée aux protéines plasmatiques comparativement à l’humain. Ce résultat important sera utile pour planifier les prochaines études précliniques. La troisième étude a exploré, pour la première fois, la pharmacocinétique et la pharmacodynamie de la néostigmine administrée par voie épidurale et a essayé de caractériser la courbe dose-réponse en utilisant trois doses différentes : 0.5, 1 et 1.5 mg. Bien que les concentrations de la néostigmine dans le liquide céphalo-rachidien fussent très variables une relation inverse entre la consommation de mépéridine et la dose de néostigmine a été démontrée. La dose de 1.5 mg a donné une meilleure réponse pharmacodynamique sur la douleur, mais elle a été considérée comme dangereuse puisqu’elle a résulté en deux cas d’hypertension. Nous avons conclu que des doses plus faibles que 1.5 mg devront être utilisées lors de l’utilisation de la néostigmine par voie épidurale. En conclusion, les études rapportées dans cette thèse ont exploré les propriétés pharmacocinétiques et/ou pharmacodynamiques de certains médicaments utilisés pour le traitement de la douleur post-opératoire. Ceci mènera au but ultime qui est la meilleure prise en charge de la douleur post-opératoire chez les patients. / Post-operative pain in surgical patients remains a challenging problem for the clinicians. The treatment of post-operative pain is no longer an accessory or nice to have, since it can significantly shorten hospital stays and lead to important savings for our health system. Amongst the therapeutic approaches used in the management of post-operative pain, we will focus on peripheral nerve blocks with local anesthetics and epidural neostigmine. These drugs are currently used in the clinic, without the prior characterization of an optimal dose that took into consideration their specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Optimal doses will need to consider the specific regional anatomy of the site of drug administration with respect to the site of action. This thesis included exploratory studies that helped to characterize the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine and bupivacaine as well as the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of neostigmine. The first study included sixteen patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries with a combined femoral and sciatic nerve blocks technique using ropivacaine (n=8) or bupivacaine (n=8). The study was the first to include pharmacokinetic sampling up to 32 h after the block and results have shown that large between subject variability was present. Population modeling helped to explain and separate the various sources of variability and showed that systemic absorption was very slow. In addition, plasma concentrations were still measurable, and in some cases, plateaued at 32 h after the block. Future studies should extend sampling times to 4 or 5 days after the block in order to wait for the completion of the absorption. The second study attempted to establish an animal model by studying the intravenous pharmacokinetics and protein binding of ropivacaine in the rabbit (n=6). Results have shown that ropivacaine is much less bound to plasma protein in rabbits as compared to humans. This important information will be useful in future preclinical and clinical research. The third study explored, for the first time, the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of epidural neostigmine (n=15) and attempted to characterize the dose effect relationship by testing the following doses: 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg. Although the CSF pharmacokinetics of neostigmine were variable, a relationship between dose and meperidine consumption could be shown. The dose of 1.5 mg resulted in a better pharmacodynamic response on pain but it was deemed unsafe since it led to hypertension in two patients. We conclude that doses below 1.5 mg should be used for an epidural block with neostigmine. In conclusion, this research work investigated the pharmacokinetic and/or the pharmacodynamic characteristics of some drugs used for the treatment of post-operative pain. The gathered information will be essential to be able to reliably characterize the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships. This will help in achieving the ultimate goal which is a better management of post operative pain in surgical patients.

Degaardt, M & Rubensson, M. Postoperativt förlopp efter dagkirurgiskljumskbråcksoperation. Uppföljningssamtal som grund för kvalitetsutveckling.Examensarbete i omvårdnad 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö högskola: Hälsa ochsamhälle, Utbildningsområde omvårdnad, 2010.Syftet med denna studie var att göra en bedömning av den postoperativa förloppeti hemmet hos dagkirurgiska ljumskbråcksopererade patienter. Data insamlademed hjälp av högstrukturerade telefonintervjuer. En enkät med standardiseradefrågor och ikryssbara svarsalternativ som kommer har använts vidtelefonintervjuerna. Resultaten från de 52 intervjuerna visade att de flestapatienter inte överskred Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) 3 i vila eller rörelse dagett. På dag tre hade de flesta mer smärta vid rörelse än dag ett. De flestapatienterna följde ordinationen de fick av läkaren avseende smärtstillandetabletter. Generellt sett visade studien på få postoperativa komplikationer och högtillfredsställelse ur operationssynpunkt hos patienterna. / Degaardt, M. & Rubensson, M. Post-operative progress after one-day surgicalinguinal hernia operation. Follow-up interviews as a means for qualitydevelopment. Degree project in nursing, 15 credit points. Malmö University:Faculty of health and society, Department of nursing, 2010.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the post-operative progress for one-daysurgical inguinal hernia patients. Data was collected using structured telephoneinterviews three days after surgery. A questionnaire with standardized questionsand multiple-choice response opions was used. The results from the 52 interviewsshowed that most patients did not exceed Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) 3 dayone when at rest or moving around. On day three most patients had more painwhile moving than day 1. Most patients complied with the doctor’s prescription ofpainkillers. Generally the follow-up study showed the patients had fewcomplications and felt high satisfaction post surgery.

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is considered the treatment of choice to alleviate pain and improve function of patients with osteoarthritis. However,recent evidence suggests that a significant proportion of patients continue to report pain, or worsening of their symptoms well after their joint replacement. We call this chronic pain “<em>phantom joint pain</em>” as it persists despite the fact hat the affected joint has been replaced.</p> <p>Chronic pain of neuropathic origin may be a consequence of surgery or in patients with osteoarthritis (OA); there may be a combination of nociceptive and neuropathic pain (NP) mechanisms. As there are no definitive physiological indicators for NP or gold standards for diagnosis, Guidelines on Neuropathic Pain Assessment advocate the use of screening tools to evaluate the patient’s pain experiences and potentially characterize various pain features.</p> <p>Despite suggestions that phantom joint pain post TJA is a common problem there is limited information about its prevalence among Canadians. To date there are no studies that have characterized neuropathic vs. non- neuropathic chronic pain features in a TJA population.</p> <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this work was to determine the<em> </em>prevalence of chronic pain following total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty, and to identify the proportion of the cohort with chronic pain whose symptoms suggested the pain was of neuropathic origin. In addition we evaluated the ability of the NP Subscale of the McGill pain questionnaire [NP-MPQ (SF-2)] to identify individuals with NP vs. Non NP in the TJA population.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> A retrospective cohort study (2-4 years post joint replacement) of 148 participants with primary unilateral TJAidentified from a large joint arthroplasty database (n=1143). Chronic pain was defined as post surgical pain reported 6-12 months following surgery to be 3 or higher (out of 5) on the Oxford Hip/Knee Scores, and that pain was the same or worse than reported preoperatively. A postal survey was used to administer the NP-MPQ (SF-2)and the Self-Administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Signs and Symptoms (S–LANSS) (1.5-3.5 years post TJA). S-LANSS was the “non reference standard” for classification of neuropathic pain. Human research ethics approvals from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and McMaster University/Hamilton Health Sciences were obtained prior to the study.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: The response rate to the postal survey to identify those with chronic pain of neuropathic origin was 53%. Thirteen percent of individuals experienced chronic pain; among individuals with chronic pain, neuropathic subtype was found in 28% (S-LANSS ≥ 12) - 43% [NP-MPQ (SF-2) ≥ 0.91]. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis for NP-MPQ (SF-2) yielded an area under the curve of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.97). A cut off score of 0.91 NP-MPQ (SF-2),<strong> </strong>maximized sensitivity (89.5%) and specificity (75.0%). Our results revealed moderate correlation (r=0.56; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.68) between the S-LANSS and NP-MPQ (SF-2)scores in patients with NP post TJA.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on our results, a considerable percentage of individuals (13%) experience chronic pain following TKA and THA. Moreover, among individuals with chronic pain symptoms, a significant proportion (28-43%) of those experience pain that appears to have a neuropathic component, even 1.5 to 3.5 years following surgery.Overall prevalence of NP in TJA was 3.3 to 4.5%. The NP-MPQ (SF-2)subscale demonstrated “good” discriminatory ability, thus it might be useful in identifying patients with NP following TJA. Moderate association exists between the scales and this could affect prevalence rates in studies; or diagnosis of NP of individual patients based on the criterion used.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)