More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed worldwide every year. A substantial proportion of patients still report early postoperative neurological pain within the first 24–48 h, even after minor procedures. In this regard, a recent multicenter, prospective, and observational trial assessed the early postoperative neuropathic pain and its prolonged impact using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) screening tool. Approximately 600 patients undergoing 13 different types of surgery were involved in the study.
Pain was evaluated at least 2 h postoperatively on the same day (D0), on the second day (D2) and at 1 and 2 months after surgery (M1 and M2). A 10-point Numeric Rating Scale was used to assess the postoperative pain. If the Numeric Rating Scale score was greater than 0, neuropathic pain was assessed using a DN4 (clinician-administered) questionnaire or using a DN2…
