Pain Assessment and Treatment in Children with Significant Impairment of the Central Nervous System Julie Hauer, Amy J
CLINICAL REPORT Guidance for the Clinician in Rendering Pediatric Care Pain Assessment and Treatment in Julie Hauer, MD, FAAP, a, b Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, c SECTION ON HOSPICE ChildrenAND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, COUNCIL With ON CHILDREN Significant WITH DISABILITIES Impairment of the Central Nervous System Pain is a frequent and significant problem for children with impairment abstract of the central nervous system, with the highest frequency and severity occurring in children with the greatest impairment. Despite the significance of the problem, this population remains vulnerable to underrecognition and undertreatment of pain. Barriers to treatment may include uncertainty in identifying pain along with limited experience and fear with the use of aComplex Care Service, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston medications for pain treatment. Behavioral pain-assessment tools are Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston Massachusetts; bSeven Hills Pediatric Center, Groton, reviewed in this clinical report, along with other strategies for monitoring Massachusetts; and cDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pediatric Rehabilitation pain after an intervention. Sources of pain in this population include Medicine, Rehabilitation Institute, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of acute-onset pain attributable to tissue injury or inflammation resulting UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in nociceptive pain, with pain then expected to resolve after treatment Dr Hauer conceptualized and drafted the initial manuscript, reviewed and responded to questions and comments from all reviewers, and directed at the source. Other sources can result in chronic intermittent pain contributed to writing the final manuscript; Dr Houtrow contributed that, for many, occurs on a weekly to daily basis, commonly attributed to to the initial drafting and editing at all stages, including the final manuscript; and all authors approved the final manuscript as gastroesophageal reflux, spasticity, and hip subluxation.
[Show full text]