10 research outputs found
Ariel - Volume 9 Number 4
Executive Editor
Emily Wofford
Business Manager
Fredric Jay Matlin
University News
John Patrick Welch
World News
George Robert Coar
Editorials Editor
Steve Levine
Features
Mark Rubin
Brad Feldstein
Sports Editor
EIi Saleeby
Circulation
Victor Onufreiczuk
Lee Wugofski
Graphics and Art
Steve Hulkower
Commons Editor
Brenda Peterso
Ariel - Volume 9 Number 3
Executive Editor
Emily Wofford
Business Manager
Fredric Jay Matlin
University News
John Patrick Welch
World News
George Robert Coar
Editorials Editor
Steve Levine
Features
Mark Rubin
Brad Feldstein
Photo
Rick Spaide
Circulation
Victor Onufreiczuk
Lee Wugofski
Graphics and Art
Steve Hulkower
Commons Editor
Brenda Peterso
Prediction of postoperative pain after Mohs micrographic surgery with 2 validated pain anxiety scales
Anxiety toward pain has been shown in several studies to increase postoperative pain after surgical procedures. This anxiety can be measured by several validated questionnaires, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS). Higher scores on these scales correlate with increased pain after surgery, but this has not yet been demonstrated in dermatologic surgery.
To assess whether pain anxiety will predict postoperative pain after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).
Patients at 2 private Mohs practices were recruited to fill out 2 pain questionnaires, the PCS and the PASS. Their postoperative pain was assessed after MMS.
Three hundred fifty-six patients completed the study. Overall, most patients experienced little postoperative pain after Mohs surgery. However, for people with high anxiety toward pain, they also experienced statistically significant greater postoperative pain. Other factors that contributed to greater postoperative pain included female gender and lower extremity location. Second intention healing had lower pain than other repair types.
This study shows that postoperative pain is affected by pain anxiety, even in dermatologic surgery. However, most patients still had very little discomfort after surgery, further supporting MMS as an effective and safe procedure with relatively few postoperative problems