Optimizing acute pain management in trauma care: the role, structure and core principles of acute trauma pain services

Abstract

Trauma injuries, both accidental and violence-related, account for a significant number of fatalities and non-fatal injuries annually, with pain being a predominant symptom affecting trauma patients. Despite its prevalence, pain is often undertreated in emergency settings, leading to adverse outcomes such as delayed recovery, impaired respiratory function, and increased risk of chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. An Acute Trauma Pain Service (ATPS) is designed to address these issues through a multidisciplinary approach, involving anesthesiologists, pain nurses, and trauma specialists. This service aims to provide comprehensive pain management by employing multimodal analgesia, which integrates pharmacological methods and regional techniques throughout the entire trauma care continuum. Effective pain management not only improves immediate patient well-being but also reduces long-term complications and economic burdens associated with extended hospital stays and readmissions. The integration of Acute pain service in trauma care emphasizes the importance of pain management as an integral part of patient recovery, highlighting the need for specialized services to enhance the quality and efficacy of trauma care.

Keywords: Acute pain service; Acute trauma pain service; Multimodal analgesia; Pain management; Trauma.