Abstract

A knowledge of the natural history of post-operative pain is of importance in at least two respects. It will help the clinician, who finds its treatment is at present unsatisfactory. There is a pressing need for greater efficiency in meeting this problem (Editorial, 1953; Leading articles, 1964; Simpson and Parkhouse, 1961). In the field of research, the extent of the relief of postoperative pain has been much used in clinical trials designed to assay the efficacy of analgesic agents (Lee, 1942; Denton and Beecher, 1949; Masson, 1962; Park-house, 1967). To be meaningful, the design of such trials must take into consideration the various factors influencing the degree and course of post-operative pain.