Chronic postsurgical pain following thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Catarina Cruz Chaves, Maria Madalena Frias, Luís Guimarães-Pereira
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis assessed chronic postsurgical pain after thyroidectomy, synthesizing 16 studies involving 1538 patients. The pooled incidence of chronic postsurgical pain at 3 months was 18.4%. Neuropathic pain was reported in 40.9% of patients at 3 months and 9.5% at 6 months. The authors noted substantial heterogeneity, particularly for the 3-month neuropathic pain estimate, and concluded that these findings require cautious interpretation.
Key findings
- Across 16 studies and 1538 patients, pooled chronic postsurgical pain incidence at 3 months was 18.4%.
- Pooled neuropathic pain incidence was 40.9% at 3 months and 9.5% at 6 months.
- The authors reported substantial heterogeneity, particularly in the 3-month neuropathic pain estimate.
Why it matters
Pain persisting after thyroidectomy may be overlooked despite a pooled 3-month estimate of 18.4%. Recognising it as a potential postoperative outcome can inform assessment and follow-up. The neuropathic pain estimates suggest that pain characteristics may vary over time, but heterogeneity limits how confidently these pooled figures can be applied to individual patients.
What to keep in mind
Substantial heterogeneity, particularly for the 3-month neuropathic pain estimate, warrants cautious interpretation.