Summary

After thoracic surgery—any medical operation done inside the chest—patients can experience pain, soreness or numbness even years later. This is because the incisions cut through muscles and nerves on sensitive ribs, which can cause damage and inflammation. Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have been investigating ways to treat postoperative pain without having to rely on opioid medications. They explored using cryoanalgesia during surgery—in other words, freezing the nerves.

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