Chronic postsurgical pain following thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Chronic postsurgical pain is well recognized after major surgical procedures but often overlooked following thyroidectomy. Given the increasing frequency of this surgery, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize current evidence on the incidence, characteristics, and modulating factors of chronic postsurgical pain after thyroidectomy (CPPT).

A systematic search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines across 3 electronic databases. Two independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model to estimate pooled incidence rates of CPPT and neuropathic pain. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also conducted.