| New definition |
Changes versus earlier definitions |
Comments |
| Pain developed after a surgical procedure or increased pain intensity after the surgical procedure |
Addition of pain that preceded surgery but worsened after surgery |
This includes both new and worsened pain |
| Pain should be of at least three months duration with a significant effect on the quality of life |
The original definition was two months Added that this pain must adversely affect the quality of life |
This would exclude prolonged pain syndromes that do not affect the quality of life |
| Pain is a continuation of acute postoperative pain or may develop after an asymptomatic period |
Better recognition that CPSP may be preceded by a short postsurgical period without pain |
This suggests that, at least in some cases, CPSP may not be a transition from acute postsurgical pain |
| Pain is localized to the surgical field or to a referred area (e.g., innervation territory, referred dermatome for visceral surgery) |
This adds that pain must be localized or referred to the surgical area |
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| Other possible causes for the pain have been ruled out |
This has always been part of the CPSP definition |
Other causes for pain following surgery may be infection or recurrence of cancer |
