Surgical procedures for treating neuropathic pain, including trigeminal neuralgia (TGN), are categorized into three groups: decompression, ablation, and neuromodulation. Microvascular decompression is the only causal therapy for TGN, applicable favorably in cases of classical TGN due to a vascular nerve conflict. Ablative procedures include both percutaneous and radiosurgical methods, which are mainly used for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. For irreversible neuropathies of the trigeminal nerve, the algorithm for other neuropathic pain conditions should be considered, along with the potential use of neuromodulatory techniques. When selecting a therapy, diagnosis, medication side effects, individual patient risks, and treatment outcomes must all be taken into account (current S1 guideline from the German Society of Neurology).

Up to the early 2000s the need for optimization in the treatment of acute pain in hospitals was highlighted. Only a few successes were achieved in the optimization process. As the acute pain care in Germany remained persistently unsatisfactory, the first health services research projects in pain medicine were initiated. These were intended to achieve improvements in patient care.

Higher pain grades are associated with high psychological burden and increase the risk for the persistence of chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Pain is an omnipresent symptom in the field of musculoskeletal healthcare. Person-centred care in accordance with current scientific recommendations requires comprehensive and evidence-based knowledge about pain. However, there appears to be a lack of knowledge in this area both internationally and nationally.

The outcome domains pain intensity, pain-related interference, side effects, (treatment) information, participation and personal interaction have all been identified as relevant factors in the management of perioperative pain. However, it is not yet clear which of these are particularly significant for the subjectively perceived overall quality of postoperative pain management.

Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) is an established treatment for patients with severe chronic pain. Little evidence is available on the role of treatment dosage and, in particular, on the association between the duration of IMPT and treatment outcome.

In health services research, the health care of the population is examined under everyday conditions. Scientific questions include medical, patient-oriented, system-, performance- and quality-related as well as health economics topics. In health services research, complex interventions, e.g., treatment concepts with multiple therapy components, and/or across multiple sectors, are often implemented. The design of studies in health services research is based on the research question, the setting, and the available data, which can come from a variety of sources.

Palliative sedation aims to relieve refractory suffering in patients with life-limiting disease. The 2009 framework on palliative sedation of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) has recently been updated. Recommendations have also been formulated by the research group SedPall in Germany. This article describes the social and ethical complexity of decision-making and summarises the recommendations. Patient autonomy is emphasised. Refractoriness of the suffering should be determined jointly by physician and patient. Sedation should be proportional, that is to say, its form and duration should be adapted to the patient's individual situation. The decision on palliative sedation and that on hydration involve two separate decision-making processes. Midazolam should be used as first choice. Particular attention should be paid to the patient's relatives/significant others and the treating team.

Chronic pain requires graduated and staged levels of care. The aim of this study is to provide a regional overview regarding the accessibility of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care from the patient's perspective in Germany.

Chronic pain affects an enormous number of patients in Germany. Therefore, early detection is important using easy, quick and reasonable screening methods. The avoidance-endurance fast screen is currently available in two different versions: one asking for pain-related behaviour in light and severe pain and the other assessing overall severe pain-related behaviour. In this study we aim to examine the agreement between both scales and for the first time describe the role of protective psychological features such as resilience and self-compassion in this model.

Chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) encompasses a spectrum of symptoms ranging from hypoesthesia with impaired gait, stance and fine motor skills to painful dysesthesia and allodynia and significantly impairs the quality of life of those affected. In the present pilot study, quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used to investigate CIPN as a common adverse effect of cytostatic drugs in patients with incurable cancer. The QST is a standardized examination procedure that is not yet routinely used in cancer patients. It is used to examine thermal and mechanical perception and pain thresholds to record the subjectively experienced pain phenotype. In the N‑Check pilot project, the QST was used before and after tumor-specific, potentially CIPN-inducing treatment and the data collected was compared in a pre-post analysis. In addition, the specific effects of CIPN on the health-related quality of life of patients treated primarily with a palliative intention were recorded using the Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire. Overall, the patients showed significant heat hypoalgesia after chemotherapy as a sign of damage to small nerve fibers. In addition, there were signs of deterioration of the quality of life. The feasibility of QST in patients with incurable cancer and palliative, neurotoxic chemotherapy was demonstrated in this pilot study.

In order to properly inform patients about their pain and initiate targeted therapies, it is important for physiotherapists to learn about the latest scientific evidence on pain during their training.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can lead to severe pain and limited functionality in the long term. Guidelines should help to optimize treatment procedures. It should be investigated which outcome is achieved after 1 year with guideline-based therapy.