The Centre for Complex Pain wins an Award of Excellence from the MCH Foundation

The Edwards Family Interdisciplinary Centre for Complex Pain (CCP) is the proud recipient of the American Iron and Metal Teamwork Award of Excellence 2024. The Awards of Excellence are presented by the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation to dedicated hospital staff members and community leaders who are at the forefront of the care and well-being of our young patients. The centre is a comprehensive clinical, educational and research centre with a 17-member team that assesses more than 200 new patients a year and follows more than 450 patients.

“The success of the Centre is a testament to the team’s dedication. Everyone plays a key role in delivering exceptional care and positive outcomes for children and adolescents with complex pain conditions,” says Dr. Pablo Ingelmo, Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Director of the Centre.

One in five children will experience chronic pain before reaching adulthood. Left untreated, it can become a lifelong affliction often leading to mental illness, substance abuse and underemployment.The good news is that the CCP team has an impressive cure rate. Over 75 per cent of its patients leave treatment pain free, medication free and fully able to resume their lives (school, work, sports, etc.)

Other remarkable statistics include:

• The team has reduced the use of strong opioids from 18 per cent in 2013 to less than 1 per cent in 2022.
• Since 2015, the CCP team has reduced the consults of any of its cases to the emergency department by 46 per cent, and 84 per cent of those related to chronic pain.

“Putting the patient’s needs first requires listening to and understanding what the child and family are living and experiencing. Only by truly hearing their story can the CCP develop a treatment plan that empowers the child to succeed in their journey towards a pain-free future.”

Between 2013 and 2022, the CCP’s research team made several discoveries about treating pain in children, including using cannabinoids, laughing gas and allergy medication for children with fibromyalgia. The team has published 100 articles in respected peer-reviewed journals. Thanks to long-time Children’s Foundation supporter Mark Pathy, the Axiom Space Ax-1 crew and NASA, the CCP team developed and oversaw five pain research projects aboard the International Space Station in 2021.