Early Screening of Chronic Post-sternotomy Pain Using the DN4-i Questionnaire (DEPDN4i)

May 19, 2026 updated by: Marc LOPEZ, MD, Institute Arnault Tzanck, France

Association Between Early Neuropathic Pain and Chronic Post-Sternotomy Pain After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): A Prospective Observational Study

Chronic post-sternotomy pain (CPSP) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, with a reported prevalence between 30% and 50%. Several studies show that a significant proportion of patients experience persistent pain long after cardiac surgery, often with a neuropathic component. Internal mammary artery harvesting is known to cause intercostal nerve injury. Recent data suggest that early neuropathic pain, assessed using the DN4 score, may predict the chronicization of postoperative pain.

This study is a prospective observationnal study to evaluate the association between early neuropathic pain (DN4-i ≥ 3/7 on postoperative day 5) and the occurrence of chronic post-sternotomy pain at 3 months in patients who underwent median sternotomy for coronary artery bypass grafting with internal mammary artery harvesting

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • France
    • France
      • Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France, France, 06700
        • Institut Arnault Tzanck
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Any adult patient undergoing scheduled cardiac surgery with coronary artery bypass via median sternotomy with internal mammary artery harvesting in Institut Arnault Tzanck Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Scheduled cardiac surgery with coronary artery bypass via median sternotomy with internal mammary artery harvesting
  • Patients receive an information sheet and a non-opposition form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of sternotomy
  • Early reoperation < 30 days
  • Chronic treatment with strong opioids or neuropahtic pain medications
  • Severe cognitive impairment
  • Patients under legal protection or guardianship

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire Interview (DN4i)
Time Frame: Day 5
Abbreviated DN4i questionnaire Minimal : 0 Maximal : 7 The DN4i is a validated interview-based questionnaire designed to identify neuropathic pain. It consists of 7 sensory descriptors reported by the patient. A score ≥ 3/7 suggests the presence of neuropathic pain.
Day 5

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months
Pain intensity was assessed using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain).
3 and 6 months
Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire Interview (DN4i)
Time Frame: 3 and 6 month
Abbreviated DN4i questionnaire Minimal : 0 Maximal : 7 The DN4i is a validated interview-based questionnaire designed to identify neuropathic pain. It consists of 7 sensory descriptors reported by the patient. A score ≥ 3/7 suggests the presence of neuropathic pain.
3 and 6 month
5-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L)
Time Frame: 3 months and 6 months

Evaluation of functionnal impact on quality of life with EQ-5D-5L The digits for the five dimensions can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state.

Five items representing five dimensions:

Mobility; Self-care; Usual activities; Pain and discomfort; Anxiety and depression.

Responses are recorded on 5-point scales (1: no problems; 2: slight problems; 3: moderate problems; 4: severe problems; 5: extreme problems or complete inability).
3 months and 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Institute Arnault Tzanck, France

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 3, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 3, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 3, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 19, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 19, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-A00419-42 (Other Identifier: ANSM)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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