Chronic pain at 4 months in hospitalized trauma patients: incidence and life interference

J Trauma Nurs. 2012 Jul-Sep;19(3):154-9. doi: 10.1097/JTN.0b013e318261d304.

Abstract

Many studies report on the incidence of chronic pain. However, deficiencies exist in prior research making it difficult to generalize results to trauma patients. This study evaluated the incidence of chronic pain in trauma patients at 4 months posttrauma and effect chronic pain has on life interference. The incidence of chronic pain was present in 79.2% of trauma patients 4 months posttrauma and a strong positive correlation (n = 80, r = 0.79, P < 0.001) existed between chronic pain severity and the effect on life interference. Chronic pain is prevalent and causes significant life interference in traumatically injured patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Chronic Pain / epidemiology*
  • Chronic Pain / etiology*
  • Chronic Pain / physiopathology
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Length of Stay
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Trauma / complications*
  • Multiple Trauma / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Trauma / therapy
  • Pain Measurement
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Distribution
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult