Journal of Pain Research (Apr 2022)
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Painful Scar: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Alaa Abd-Elsayed,1 Jason Pope,2 Derick A Mundey,3 Konstantin V Slavin,4,5 Steven Falowski,6 Ahish Chitneni,7 Stephen R Popielarski,8 Jarod John,9 Samuel Grodofsky,10 Tony Vanetesse,11 Michael A Fishman,11 Philip Kim11 1Department of Anesthesia, Division of Pain Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; 2Evolve Restorative Center, Santa Rosa, CA, USA; 3United Anesthesia Services, P.C., Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA; 4Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; 5Neurology Service, Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; 6Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster, Lancaster, PA, USA; 7Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell, New York, NY, USA; 8Thermaquil, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, USA; 9Argires Marotti Neurosurgical Associates, Lancaster, PA, USA; 10Philadelphia Smart Pain & Wellness, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA; 11Center for Interventional Pain Spine, LLC., Wilmington, DE, USACorrespondence: Alaa Abd-Elsayed, FASA Department of Anesthesia, Division of Pain Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, B6/319 CSC, Madison, WI, 53792-3272, USA, Tel +1 608-263-8100, Fax +1 608-263-0575, Email [email protected]: Painful scars can develop after surgery or trauma, with symptoms ranging from a minor itch to intractable allodynia. The problem of the painful scar may involve both intraneural and extraneural structures, requiring a systematic approach to diagnosis and treatment of this neuropathic pain condition that can impact quality of life and function profoundly. In this review, we outline the algorithm for the diagnosis, management, medical and surgical treatment of painful scars.Keywords: painful scar, surgical scar, chronic pain, scar pain, thermal nerve block
