Wound Pain Management: The Present and the Future

Wound pain is a common issue during wound care procedures such as dressing changes and debridement, significantly affecting patient comfort and recovery. Effective pain management is essential, not only for enhancing quality of life but also for promoting healing and minimizing complications. Factors like resting pain intensity, expected pain, and type of dressing have been identified as key predictors of severe wound pain during these procedures, helping clinicians manage pain more effectively by enabling early intervention. The Wound Pain Management Model was developed to guide healthcare professionals in managing chronic wound pain through steps like wound assessment, local treatment, and systemic management when necessary. While opioids are a common treatment, concerns over dependence and side effects have led to the exploration of alternatives. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological approach, reducing pain through distraction, particularly in burn and chronic wound care. However, variability in study designs limits the current understanding of VR’s overall effectiveness. This review examines both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to wound pain management, with a focus on VR. Further research with larger, more consistent studies is needed to better assess VR’s long-term benefits across different patient groups and wound types.