A descriptive review of neuropathic-like pain after burn injury

This study reviews the natural history of neuropathic-like pain after burn injury. We undertook a retrospective chart review during a 24-month period of patients treated at an outpatient burn center. The medical records of patients with neuropathic-like pain complaints, including the sensation of pi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of burn care & research 2006-07, Vol.27 (4), p.524-528
Main Authors: SCHNEIDER, Jeffrey C, HARRIS, Natalie L, EL SHAMI, Amir, SHERIDAN, Robert L, SCHULZ, John T, BILODEAU, Mary-Liz, RYAN, Colleen M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Burns
Burns - complications
Burns - therapy
Dermatology
Disease Progression
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Length of Stay
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neuralgia - etiology
Neuralgia - physiopathology
Pain Measurement
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
Trauma Severity Indices
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study reviews the natural history of neuropathic-like pain after burn injury. We undertook a retrospective chart review during a 24-month period of patients treated at an outpatient burn center. The medical records of patients with neuropathic-like pain complaints, including the sensation of pins and needles, burning, stabbing, shooting, or "electric" sensations, were included for analysis. Medical and demographic data were collected. We identified 72 patients for inclusion in the study. The age was 44 +/- 2 years (mean +/- SEM), and TBSA burned was 18 +/- 3%. The first complaint of neuropathic-like symptoms was at 4.3 +/- 0.5 months after injury. Documentation of improvement in the symptoms occurred at 7.0 +/- 0.8 months. Symptoms persisted for 13.1 +/- 2.2 months after the injury. Patients were followed for 14.5 +/- 2.2 months. Documented initial pain severity score was 7 +/- 1 of 10. Typical exacerbating factors included temperature change, dependent position, light touch, and weight-bearing activities. Common alleviating factors included rest, massage, compression garment use, and elevation. Treatment regimens often included gabapentin (38%) and steroid injections (21%). Hypertrophic scarring (43%), pruritus (40%), and psychiatric diagnoses (36%) were common associated problems. There is a patterned natural history for neuropathic-like pain after burn injury. This clinical entity involves significant pain complaints and persists, on average, for greater than 1 year after injury, which underscores the importance of long-term outpatient care after burn injury. Furthermore, an understanding of the natural history will assist clinicians in prognosticating and caring for burn survivors with pain after wound closure.
ISSN:1559-047X
1559-0488
DOI:10.1097/01.BCR.0000226019.76946.5D