Occurrence of neuropathic pain and its characteristics in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objectives

Assess the occurrence of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injured persons (SCIP) and define the relationship between neuropathic pain with demographic and clinical characteristics in SCIPs.

Methods

This Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 SCIPs treated at our tertiary care hospital. Initial clinical evaluation was done according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. A clinical evaluation was done. All subjects were screened with the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms, Signs (LANSS) and DN4 questionnaire for neuropathic pain. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure the severity of neuropathic pain. Later two groups were created based on the presence and absence of neuropathic pain.

Results

The mean age was 35.04 ± 13 years. Fifty-eight patients (55.8%) had a complete injury (ASIA grade A), 41 (39.4%) patients had an incomplete kind of injury (ASIA grade B-D) and 5(4.8%) patients had no deficits (ASIA grade E). Neuropathic pain was present in 77(74.0%) and absent in 27(26.0%) patients. Seventy-one patients (92.2%) experience neuropathic pain in the first year after traumatic SCI. Medicines were a common pain-relieving factor 64(83.1%).

Conclusion

74% of patients complained of neuropathic pain, indicating a significant complication. A comprehensive evaluation and treatment are necessary to address it while including variables like the completeness of injury, duration and timing.