Research priorities in the field of post-traumatic pain and disability : results of a transdisciplinary consensus-generating workshop

Background: Chronic or persistent pain and disability following non-catastrophic musculoskeletal (MSK) trauma is a pervasive public health problem. Recent intervention trials have provided little evidence of benefits from several specific treatments for preventing chronic problems. Such findings may appear to argue against formal targeted interventions for MSK trauma. However, these negative findings may reflect a lack of understanding of the causal mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic pain, rendering informed and objective treatment decisions difficult. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis has recently identified better understanding of causal mechanisms as one of three priority foci of their most recent strategic plan. Objectives: A two-day, invitation-only, active participation workshop, attended by 30 academics, clinicians and consumers, was conducted in March 2015, with the purpose of identifying consensus research priorities in the field of trauma-related MSK pain and disability, prediction and prevention. Methods: Conversations were recorded, explored thematically and member-verified for accuracy. Results: From the discussions, 13 themes were generated that ranged from a focus on identifying causal mechanisms and models to challenges with funding and patient engagement. Discussion: Novel priorities included the inclusion of consumer groups in research from the early conceptualization and design stages, and interdisciplinary longitudinal studies that include evaluation of integrated phenotypes and mechanisms.