COPE: MT- Chronic pain predictors in Major Trauma

Risk factors for chronic pain in major trauma patients with limb injury

What we are doing?

The purpose of the PhD is to create a predictive tool to identify patients at risk of chronic pain following traumatic limb injury. 

Key objectives include: 

  1. Systematic review of risk factors for chronic pain following traumatic limb injuries
  2. Develop a questionnaire to measure risk factors for chronic pain 
  3. Complete the questionnaire with patients at the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre and assess the occurrence/severity of chronic pain at 3 and 6 months post injury 
  4. Identify associations between risk factors and the occurrence/severity of chronic pain post injury
  5. Develop a tool to predict occurrence/severity of chronic pain in trauma patients with limb injuries 

Why we are doing it?

Approximately half of all major trauma patients sustain a limb injury and chronic pain following traumatic limb injury is common. Chronic pain is associated with significant detrimental effects on health, employment, quality of life and disability. Few studies have looked in depth at long-term complications for the UK major trauma population. 

Currently there is no valid tool available for clinical use to predict patients at risk of chronic pain following traumatic limb injury. The ability to identify patients at risk is a vital step in working towards managing and preventing chronic pain.

What the benefits will be and to whom?

Patients - Trauma patients report they are currently not provided with adequate information they need about their injury, what to expect from their recovery, pain control and secondary issues. This project directly addresses these issues.

Clinicians - Providing an evidence-based method for identifying patients at risk will support clinicians to give patients information on their prognosis and recovery and provides guidance on how to manage such patients.

Community services - Trauma patients report struggling to access community health services. Identifying at-risk patients may help overcome barriers to accessing specialist pain services by improving communication and referrals across primary and secondary care.

Who we are working with?

  • The University of Nottingham 
  • The East Midlands Major Trauma Centre at Nottingham University Hospital Trust

Contact

Georgia Melia, Clinical Research Practitioner / PhD student, Nottingham University Hospitals / University of Nottingham, Georgia.melia1@nhs.net / Georgia.melia1@nottingham.ac.uk.