[Somatoform pain disturbance as the result of trauma]

Abstract

Orthopedic specialists and emergency surgeons are often confronted with somatoform disorders, which can be the result of traumatization, and they frequently do not recognize this. A combination of pain and several other physical symptoms is typical for somatization, and in these circumstances a psychosocial history should be elicited as a precaution before an elective operation is considered. Recognition of somatization with subsequent referral to more appropriate professional care (e.g., center for multimodal pain therapy, psychosomatic clinic) is crucial. We describe an interesting and instructive case, which it is hoped will help practitioners to recognize such patients and deal with their cases in the correct manner.