Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome and sensory disturbances following thoracotomy at 6- and 12-month follow-ups

Abstract

Background

Persistent pain affects a large proportion of patients after thoracotomy and is associated with sensory disturbances. The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the time course of pain and sensory disturbances over a 12-month period.

Methods

Patients scheduled for thoracotomy were recruited. Data were collected on the day before surgery, including baseline characteristics and the presence of any preoperative pain. At 6- and 12-month follow-ups, data on pain were collected using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, and perceived sensory disturbances around the thoracotomy scar were recorded from a self-exploration test.

Results

At 12 months after surgery, 97 patients had complete data including baseline and 6-and 12-month measurements. Almost half of the patients reported post-thoracotomy pain at the follow-ups. However, 20% of the patients not reporting post-thoracotomy pain at 6 months did report it at 12 months. Between 40% and 60% of patients experienced some kind of sensory disturbance at 6 months. A small decline in some kind of sensory disturbance was reported by 20%–50% of patients at 12 months.

Conclusion

A proportion of patients experienced either resolved or delayed onset of pain. Sensory changes were strongly associated with post-thoracotomy pain syndrome, but were also present in a large proportion of patients without it.

Keywords:

• pain
• post-thoracotomy pain syndrome
• chronic pain
• thoracic surgery
• sensory disturbance
• delayed pain

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Norway and Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo, Norway.

This study was carried out at Oslo University Hospital-Ullevål, Oslo, Norway.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.