Neuropathic Pain after Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Correction Surgery

Abstract

Study Design: Prospective study.Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and the associated risk factors of chronic neuropathic pain symptoms using painDETECTquestionnaire in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery.Overview of Literature: Post-lumbar surgery syndrome is a disease entity that describes neuropathic pain following spinal surgery.However, few studies have investigated the prevalence and risk factors for neuropathic pain in pediatric population undergoing correctivespinal surgery.Methods: Forty AIS patients were recruited. Demographic, preoperative, and postoperative data were recorded. The magnitude andcharacteristics of postoperative pain were assessed using the painDETECT questionnaire through telephone enquiries at intervals of2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Statistical analyses were followed by Pearson correlation test to determine the relationship between painscores at 6, 12, and 24 weeks with the risk factors.Results: Based on the painDETECT questionnaire, 90% of the patients had nociceptive pain, and 10% had a possible neuropathicpain component at 2 weeks postoperatively as per a mean painDETECT score of 7.1±4.5. Assessments at 6, 12, and 24 weeks showedthat no patients had neuropathic pain with painDETECT scores of 4.4±3.2, 2.9±2.9, and 1.5±2.0, respectively. There was a significantcorrelation between total postoperative morphine use during 48 hours after the surgery and a tendency to develop neuropathic pain(p =0.022).Conclusions: Chronic neuropathic pain was uncommon in AIS patients who had undergone PSF surgery. Higher opioid consumptionwill increase the possibility of developing chronic neuropathic pain