Surgery and trauma are recognised as important causes of chronic pain, although their
overall contribution has not been systematically studied. This paper reports on the
contribution of surgery and trauma to chronic pain among 5130 patients attending 10
outpatient clinics located throughout North Britain. Surgery contributed to pain in 22.5% of
patients, and was particularly associated with the development of pain in the abdomen and
with anal, perineal and genital pain. Trauma was a cause of pain in 18.7% of patients, and …