Chronic Pain Due to Injury

Patients with combat-related amputations frequently experience persistent neuroma pain that may interfere with rehabilitation, prosthesis use, sleep, mobility, and quality of life. Current treatment options often provide only temporary relief. This study aims to compare two ultrasound-guided injection approaches for chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation: botulinum toxin type A and local anesthetic injection. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two treatments. Pain intensity, neuropathic pain symptoms, phantom limb pain, prosthesis tolerance, and functional outcomes will be evaluated during follow-up visits over a 24-week period. The goal of the study is to determine whether botulinum toxin type A provides longer-lasting pain reduction and improved functional recovery compared with local anesthetic injection in patients with chronic neuroma pain after combat-related amputation.

War-related trauma frequently causes complex soft tissue injuries that require repeated surgical treatment and advanced wound management techniques such as Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). Although NPWT is widely used to promote wound healing and prepare wounds for reconstruction, its relationship with long-term pain outcomes remains unclear. This prospective cohort study aims to investigate whether the use of NPWT after war-related trauma is associated with an increased risk of persistent post-traumatic pain six months after injury. Adult patients with traumatic soft tissue injuries requiring surgical management will be enrolled and followed for six months. In addition to NPWT exposure, the study will evaluate several early clinical predictors of chronic pain, including acute pain intensity, number of surgical debridements, suspected nerve injury, and mechanism of trauma. Understanding these predictors may help clinicians identify high-risk patients early and develop targeted strategies for pain prevention and rehabilitation after severe trauma.

Major limb trauma is associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to systemic inflammation, endothelial injury, immobilization, and hypercoagulability. While VTE is commonly studied as a short-term complication affecting morbidity and mortality, its potential relationship with long-term pain outcomes after trauma has not been well investigated. This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate whether objectively confirmed VTE is associated with an increased risk of persistent clinically significant pain after major limb trauma. Adult patients with severe upper or lower limb injuries requiring surgical treatment or prolonged immobilization will be enrolled within 72 hours of hospital admission and followed for six months. The study will assess whether patients who develop VTE have a higher likelihood of persistent pain compared with those without VTE. In addition, the study will explore the association between baseline VTE risk (using the Trauma Embolic Scoring System, TESS), thromboprophylaxis timing, and long-term pain outcomes. Secondary analyses will evaluate neuropathic pain symptoms, pain interference with daily activities, quality of life, opioid consumption, and functional recovery. Understanding the relationship between thromboembolic complications and persistent pain may help improve risk stratification, optimize thromboprophylaxis strategies, and support early rehabilitation planning in patients with major limb trauma.

Combat-related traumatic brain injury (cTBI), particularly blast-related injury, is frequently associated with the development of persistent and disabling chronic pain. This prospective observational cohort study aims to determine the incidence, phenotypes, and early predictors of chronic pain following mild to moderate combat-related TBI. Adults will be enrolled within 14 days of injury and followed for 6 months. The primary endpoint is clinically significant chronic pain at 3 months, defined by pain intensity and functional interference. The study will evaluate clinical, psychological, and physiological factors to develop and internally validate a prognostic model for chronic pain risk after cTBI.