Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To document pain levels, functionality, and analgesic use in the 12 months following a sternotomy to identify factors associated with the development of persistent post-sternotomy pain. ⋯ This study highlights the need for further research to investigate whether more intensive pain management in the post-discharge period following sternotomy as well as the early identification of patients with neuropathic pain symptoms can reduce the incidence of persistent post-operative pain at 12 months.