Can long term duration of post-operative acute pain be a risk factor for post-operative chronic pain?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between post-operative acute pain and post-operative chronic pain by following the clinical time course in operated patients in our hospital using a questionnaire survey. Patients and Methods: Eight hundred and fifty patients visual analogue pain scale (VAS) in the perioperative period were put on the post anesthesia record from July 1998 to July 1999. In these patients we selected 122 whose VAS was more than 4 on and after post operative 4 days. These patients were interviewed by telephone or asked by sending questionnaire after their discharge. Result: One hundred and one patients (82.8%) replied to the questionnaire survey. It was clear that pain remained at survey in 27 patients (23.7%). The median value of VAS was 3 and the mean pain period was 6.8 months (3-14 months). Their ADL were disturbed in 14 patients (51.9%).