[Chronic postoperative pain].

Chronic pain constitutes a major health care and social problem. Around 20% of adults in a number of Western countries suffer from severe to moderate chronic pain that seriously affects their quality of life. That chronic pain may be an adverse outcome of surgery has been overlooked so far, but new studies suggest that chronic pain even after minor surgery is far more frequent than previously assumed. This article presents epidemiological, clinical and pathophysiological aspects of chronic postoperative pain and offers suggestions for pain management and prophylaxis.