Abstract
Objective: To evaluate and reflect about pain in the postoperative period of orthopedic surgeries through a narrative review of the literature. Literature review: The pain is defined as the unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with tissue injuries, which can be acute or chronic. It may be influence by frustration, anger and depression, beliefs, expectation and perception of the patient of his condition. Preoperative pain, disease and post-surgical anxiety are considered predictive for the development of chronic pain in the postoperative period of orthopedic surgery. Postoperative pain control involves prescribing analgesics at fixed times, use of sophisticated methods such as epidural catheters; avoid suffering, decrease satisfaction with care and limit costs related to possible complications resulting from a prolonged period of hospitalization. Effective analgesia results in faster recovery and greater collaboration with treatment, implying in positive postoperative results. Final considerations: The nurse allows the patient expose his concerns and feelings about the entire surgical process. The orthopedist surgeon and the nurse have a fundamental role to assess, control and relieve pain in the effective treatment of trauma, as it speeds up the rehabilitation process and helps to maintain the patient's physiological functions.