Multimodal strategies for alleviating postoperative pain in children: a narrative review on research progress and evidence-based practice

Background and Objective: Postoperative pain is a prevalent and clinically important issue in pediatric surgery. Poor pain control can hinder recovery, increase distress, and lead to negative short- and long-term outcomes. Due to developmental, physiological and behavioral differences between children and adults, pediatric pain management needs tailored strategies. This review aims to summarize recent evidence on multimodal pediatric postoperative pain management.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted to synthesize updated evidence on multimodal analgesic approaches for children undergoing surgery. Literature from 2010 to 2025 was retrieved from PubMed using keywords: pediatric postoperative pain, multimodal analgesia, opioid-sparing care, non-pharmacologic intervention, family-centered care, evidence-based practice and digital health. The review was prepared in accordance with the Narrative Review reporting checklist.

Key Content and Findings: Evidence supports non-opioid basic analgesics, regional techniques and standardized perioperative pathways for better pain control and less opioid use. Non-pharmacological and theory-guided interventions [distraction, virtual reality (VR), family engagement, caring nursing] further enhance pain relief and recovery. Future trends focus on implementable models integrating standardized assessment, individualized multimodal therapy, family participation and digital follow-up.

Conclusions: Effective pediatric postoperative pain management relies on multidisciplinary cooperation throughout the perioperative period. Family‑centered multimodal strategies with ongoing pain monitoring are essential to reduce opioid‑related side‑effects and facilitate children’s holistic recovery.