Chronic post-sternotomy pain, relation between accompanying painsymptoms and painlocation on the sternum

The incidence of chronic pain after sternotomy is about 30%. Chronic
post-sternotomy pain is defined as pain lasting at least 3 months, arising
after the surgery or being different from pre-surgery pain. There have been
made several inquiries into this pain, but no unambiguous cause has been
identified yet. Untill now this pain has been looked at as a local problem, but
with carefull anamnesis and body examination, frequently other painsymptoms can
be found, who have not been related to sternal pain before. This may implie
that post-sternotomy pain is not a local problem, but part of a (typical)
painsyndrom.

The objective of this study is to prove that chronic post-sternotomy pain is
not a local painproblem, but part of a general painsyndrom.

Our hypothesis is twofold:
1. The investigated painsymptoms are of more frequently occurrence in the
pain-sample than in the painfree-sample.

2. The investigated painsymptoms can be matched as a pattern to the location of
the pain on the sternum.

All patients that have undergone sternotomy in the period 2004-2005 in the LUMC
will be sent an inquiry with painquestions. Those patients who want to
participate in the study, will be asked to come to the hospital once for a 30
minute body examination. Painsymptoms of the sternum, arms, shoulder, back,
chest, neck and head will be investigated.

The patients are placed in 4 groups:
Group 1: patients with pain on the upper 1/3 part of the sternum
Group 2: patients with pain on the middel 1/3 part of the sternum
Group 3: patients with pain on the lower 1/3 part of the sternum
Group 4: patients with no pain on the sternum.

The frequency of the symptoms will be compared within the separated groups.

Almost no burden or risks are associated with participation. No invasive
investigation will be done. Only one 30 minute visite to the hospital and 1
inquiry (6 minute) will be asked.