Case Report: Application of the 6D BTS digital assessment system in the comprehensive management of refractory cancer pain in a patient with gallbladder carcinoma

Cancer pain is a major complication that adversely affects the quality of life of cancer patients, with approximately 10%–20% of patients developing refractory cancer pain that conventional medications fail to control. Traditional unidimensional assessment tools cannot fully capture the complexity of this condition. We therefore applied a novel digital tool, the 6D BTS (Botong score) digital assessment system, which was integrated with a robotic device. This system provided a multidimensional, objective evaluation through a digital interface, assessing pain intensity, physical function, emotional status, sleep quality, neuropathic pain, and breakthrough pain. The system also enabled remote dynamic monitoring outside the hospital. We report a case of gallbladder carcinoma with clavicular metastasis and recurrent sternal pain. Using a robotic system integrated with the BTS system, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the patient's pain. Based on the detailed information provided by the BTS system, we designed a personalized analgesic plan that controlled the cancer pain to some extent: the patient's Numeric Rating Scale score decreased from 8 to 1, and breakthrough pain episodes dropped from 6 times per day to 0. We conclude that the BTS system offers an effective digital solution for the comprehensive management of refractory cancer pain.