Surgeons should more frequently consider pain management

During the 25 years in which I have been interested in the diagnosis and management of pain in orthopaedic patients, I often wondered what my orthopaedic colleagues’ level of interest and skill was on this issue. I noticed that when I attended international pain meetings, mainly those of the International Association for the Study of Pain, and when I organized and presented at pain-related symposia during national and international meetings, there were always few orthopaedic surgeons in attendance.

This situation perplexes me since most of our orthopaedic patients have pain either as a main reason for consulting us or, in trauma cases, have pain to such a great extent that we must act quickly and include pain management in their initial treatment.

I often wonder why orthopaedic surgeons do not usually involve themselves in pain management and why they are not typically present when pain diagnostics and treatment is discussed.

Click here to read the full Commentary in the June issue of Orthopaedics Today Europe.