title: Post-thoracotomy pain in children and adolescence: a retrospective cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the prevalence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain, defined as persistent or recurring incisional pain for at least 2 months after thoracotomy, in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quaternary pediatric teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent a lateral thoracotomy from January 2005 to December 2007 at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients were sent a questionnaire for telephonic completion with a researcher, with assistance from the parents if required.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 87 patients eligible to participate, 51 (59%) completed questionnaires. The majority of respondents was male (65%), underwent a single thoracotomy (84%; range 1-3), and were non-elective operations (71%). The median age at first thoracotomy was 5.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-14.2) years. The median age at questionnaire completion was 9.0 (IQR 5.4-17.9) years, with 3.6 (IQR 2.8-4.1) years between thoracotomy and time of questionnaire completion. Three patients (6%) scored ≥12 on self-report versions of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale. Of these, only one patient complained of current post-thoracotomy pain. All three patients had a single thoracotomy and were older (mean age 14.2 years) at the time of thoracotomy. The rate of post-thoracotomy pain calculated using the binomial exact method is 1.96% (95% confidence interval 0-10.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study reports a low prevalence of post-thoracotomy pain in childhood and adolescence, and stands in contrast to previously published adult data.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chin-wern
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chalkiadis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*