Wound-related pain: key sources and triggers

Wound-related pain is a common phenomenon for many patients and in recent years there has been a growing awareness of the impact it has on both wound healing and quality of life. Research in the field of wound pain and the patient experience, the development of new products and the issue of expert consensus statements have all contributed to an improvement in our understanding of wound-related pain issues and our ability to effectively manage them. However, there are a multitude of intrinsic sources of wound-related pain which can be triggered or exacerbated by numerous external factors, making management both complex and challenging at times. In this article, key sources and triggers of wound-related pain are discussed, along with practical strategies for effective, patient-focused management to help health-care practitioners reduce both the incidence and impact of wound-related pain.