Pain management in polytrauma patients

Abstract

Polytrauma is a condition where patients have two or more organ systems or physical regions injuries, with one being life threatening, resulting in cognitive, physical, psychosocial, or psychological functional disability. Polytrauma patients suffer from different types of pains depending on the nature of the traumatic injury they sustain. There are two basic classification of pain: nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Nociceptive pain results from improper functioning of the body's nervous system. Patients suffering from neuropathic pain, (the second type) display characteristics of complete or partial changes in the innervations territories. The viable option for develop a protocol for pain management is to estimate relative safety and efficacy using the number needed to harm (NNH) and the number needed to treat (NNT) approach. There are different forms of therapies for patients suffering from neuropathic pain; various types of therapies that may assist polytraumatic patients to understand the connection of the mind and the body. Anesthesiologic or neurosurgical neurolytic techniques may be effective. Pharmacotherapy and other strategies of pain management depend primarily on the needs and lifestyle of the patient. Studies indicate that patients suffering from neuropathic pain respond positively to a holistic approach.

Keywords

• polytrauma
• nonciceptive pain
• neuropathic pain
• therapy