Retrospective analysis of 4 years of clinical experience with transdermal buprenorphine (Transtec®) in post-traumatic pain

SUMMARY:  Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transdermal buprenorphine (BTDS) in the treatment of post-traumatic pain in a working population. Patients & methods: Retrospective case series of patients with severe post-traumatic pain treated with BTDS between 2008 and 2012. Results: 57 patients were evaluated: 38 men, 19 women (mean age 43 years); patients with burns (n = 22), skin degloving (14), open dislocations (eight), traumatic nerve lesions (six), spinal cord injury (four) and limb amputations (three). 25, 12 and 20 patients experienced neuropathic pain, nociceptive pain or neuropathic/nociceptive pain, respectively. The mean baseline DN4 questionnaire and pain intensity scores were 4.8±2.3 and 7.4±1.5, respectively. The mean duration of pain before BTDS use was 24.4 months (>3 months in 65% of patients). Total patient-years of BTDS treatment were 73. After 14.7±14.9 months of BTDS treatment, mean pain intensity was reduced by 4.2±2.2 points, 38 patients (66.7%) had ≥50% pain relief, ...