Astrocytes and Microglia in Chronic Postsurgical Pain

The high incidence of chronic postsurgical pain, the long-standing controversial definition, the difficulty in management, and its contribution to the opioid crisis all compel researchers to explore the underlying mechanisms. Ideal animal models established to mimic various human surgeries are very limited, and chronic postsurgical pain is different from neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, or a combination of both. These challenges make research difficult but promising. This chapter introduces the role of astrocytes and microglia in the initiation and persistence of chronic postsurgical pain. We also integrate mechanisms of neuropathic, inflammatory, and other types of pain, as well as enhance postsurgical pain models and clinical trials.