Re-visiting post-breast surgery pain syndrome: risk factors, peripheral nerve associations and clinical implications

The introduction of the Breast Q, in 2007, as an outcome instrument for the evaluation of women having breast surgery (1) has enabled an understanding of quality of life issues in this large group of patients (2-5). Breast Q has a section addressing pain. To further evaluate pain, a numerical scoring system or the McGill pain questionnaire is typically added (6). The impact of pain in women having breast surgery is however not well defined and therefore underestimated