Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is characterized by high incidence,prolonged duration,multiple risk factors,and complicated pathogenesis. It seriously impairs patients' quality of life,especially after thoracotomy. Perioperative nerve injury is a major cause of CPSP. Meanwhile,the excessive neuroinflammation and inflammatory cytokines caused by surgery also accelerate the formation of CPSP. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in the roles of inflammatory reaction and cytokines in the development of CPSP.