The prevalence of neuropathic pain after non-traumatic spinal cord lesion

• Published in: Spinal cord 2007-09, Vol.45 (9), p.609-615
• Main Authors: Werhagen, L, Hultling, C, Molander, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anatomy; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Cerebrospinal fluid. Spinal cord. Spinal roots. Spinal nerves; Child; Child, Preschool; Comorbidity; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); neuralgia; Neuralgia - epidemiology; Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; non-traumatic spinal cord lesion; original-article; pain; Prevalence; Registries; rehabilitation; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Spinal Cord Diseases - epidemiology; Spinal Cord Injuries - classification; Spinal Cord Injuries - epidemiology; Spinal Diseases - epidemiology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Sweden - epidemiology; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.sc.3102000

Study design: Retrospective register study. Objective: To investigate the predictive value of the following parameters for the development of neuropathic pain after non-traumatic spinal cord lesion: that is age at onset of spinal cord disease, gender, completeness of lesion, level of lesion, and aetiology. Setting: A unit for patients with post-acute traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord lesions in the greater area of Stockholm, Sweden. Method: All patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions visiting the unit between 1995 and 2000 were classified according to the following: that is neuropathic pain at or below lesion level according to IASP criteria, age at time of the onset of the spinal cord symptoms, injury level, complete/incomplete injury, and aetiology. Results were analysed with χ 2 – analysis and logistic regression. Results: In total, 38% had neuropathic pain, 15% had pain predominantly at the level of lesion, and 23% predominantly below the level of lesion. Of those with pain, 67% reported that the pain affected daily life. Women reported neuropathic pain below the level of lesion more often (40%) than men (13%). The prevalence was particularly high (64%) for patients with malignant spinal cord diseases. Neither age at onset of the spinal cord symptoms, nor complete/incomplete injury nor injury level had significant influence on the prevalence. Conclusion: Neuropathic pain is common among patients with acquired non-traumatic spinal cord lesions regardless of aetiology, often causing severe problems in daily life.