Long-term follow-up by means of a questionnaire of 109 patients with long-lasting orofacial pain.

• The aims were to follow-up, analyse and compare the pain status after 4-9 years with that at the baseline examination of 109 consecutive patients referred to the Pain Group at the Faculty of Odontology in Malmö, Sweden during the period 1988-1993 due to long-lasting orofacial pain. A further aim was to identify predictive factors of significance for pain alteration. 85 (78%) women with a median age of 51 years and 24 (22%) men with a median age of 60 years were included in the study. A survey of the pain status at the follow-up was conducted by means of a mailed questionnaire. The questionnaire covered the following aspects: pain alteration, pain intensity, pain location, medication and education. After one reminder, the non-responding patients were called for a telephone interview. A response level of 85% was obtained. Significant improvements were noted by the patients in the answers of the questionnaire in mainly three areas; the patients answered individually that pain relief had occurred, pain intensity rated on the VAS was lower at follow-up compared to the baseline examination and a decrease in drug use was reported. The responses indicated pain relief for 75% of the patients. However, only 27% of the patients experienced total disappearance of pain. Medication at baseline with opioids, muscle relaxants with central effect, antidepressants, neuroleptics, hypnotics or sedatives was found to be a predictive factor for persistent pain.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

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