Key Points
Question
Which prospectively assessed descriptor of the acute pain trajectory in the first 10 days after surgery best estimates the likelihood of remote pain resolution, opioid cessation, and patient-reported complete recovery after surgery?
Findings
In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial of 422 patients, the worst surgical-site pain intensity over the last 24 hours reported on postoperative day 10 appeared to be the best predictor of remote pain resolution, opioid cessation, and complete recovery after surgery.
Meaning
A possibly uniform predictor of disparate surgical outcomes long after hospital discharge may be easily assessed.
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