Chronic pain after spinal cord injury: a survey of practice in spinal injury units in the USA

This article forms part of a series exploring the rehabilitation of the canine shoulder, elbow, back, hip and stifle following injury or disease. Discussed here are different rehabilitation techniques used to address neurological deficits, pain and weakness following spinal injury, including physical therapies, electrotherapies and acupuncture.

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Influence of severity and level of injury on the occurrence of complications during the subacute and chronic stage of traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2021.7.spine21537 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Charlotte Y. Adegeest ◽

Jort A. N. van Gent ◽

Janneke M. Stolwijk-Swüste ◽

Marcel W. M. Post ◽

William P. Vandertop ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Spinal Injury ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Autonomic Dysreflexia ◽

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chronic Stage ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Meta Analyses

OBJECTIVE Secondary health conditions (SHCs) are long-term complications that frequently occur due to traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) and can negatively affect quality of life in this patient population. This study provides an overview of the associations between the severity and level of injury and the occurrence of SHCs in tSCI. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase that retrieved 44 studies on the influence of severity and/or level of injury on the occurrence of SHCs in the subacute and chronic phase of tSCI (from 3 months after trauma). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. RESULTS In the majority of studies, patients with motor-complete tSCI (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] Impairment Scale [AIS] grade A or B) had a significantly increased occurrence of SHCs in comparison to patients with motor-incomplete tSCI (AIS grade C or D), such as respiratory and urogenital complications, musculoskeletal disorders, pressure ulcers, and autonomic dysreflexia. In contrast, an increased prevalence of pain was seen in patients with motor-incomplete injuries. In addition, higher rates of pulmonary infections, spasticity, and autonomic dysreflexia were observed in patients with tetraplegia. Patients with paraplegia more commonly suffered from hypertension, venous thromboembolism, and pain. CONCLUSIONS This review suggests that patients with a motor-complete tSCI have an increased risk of developing SHCs during the subacute and chronic stage of tSCI in comparison with patients with motor-incomplete tSCI. Future studies should examine whether systematic monitoring during rehabilitation and the subacute and chronic phase in patients with motor-complete tSCI could lead to early detection and potential prevention of SHCs in this population.

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How is chronic pain related to sympathetic dysfunction and autonomic dysreflexia following spinal cord injury?

Autonomic Neuroscience ◽

10.1016/j.autneu.2017.01.006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 209 ◽

pp. 79-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Edgar T. Walters

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Autonomic Dysreflexia ◽

Sympathetic Dysfunction ◽

Cord Injury

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Brain EEG activity correlates of chronic pain in persons with spinal cord injury: clinical implications

Spinal Cord ◽

10.1038/sc.2012.84 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 55-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

M P Jensen ◽

L H Sherlin ◽

K J Gertz ◽

A L Braden ◽

A E Kupper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Eeg Activity ◽

Cord Injury

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Spinal cord injury and chronic pain

BJA Education ◽

10.1093/bjaed/mkv073 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 264-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

G Hadjipavlou ◽

A M Cortese ◽

B Ramaswamy

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Cord Injury

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Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for chronic spinal cord injury: A long-term follow-up study

Journal of Neurorestoratology ◽

10.26599/jnr.2021.9040008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 94-105

Author(s):

Naifeng Kuang ◽

Xiaoyu Wang ◽

Yuexia Chen ◽

Guifeng Liu ◽

Fan’e Kong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Autonomic Function ◽

Spinal Injury ◽

International Standards ◽

Olfactory Ensheathing Cell ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Long Term Follow Up

Spinal cord injury is a serious disabling condition. Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) is one of the most promising treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI). Thirty-nine patients with chronic SCI received OEC transplantation and completed long-term follow-up, with a minimum follow-up of 7 years. We assessed sensorimotor function with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) and autonomic nervous function by the International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI), and sympathetic skin responses (SSR). The scores of each group were significantly higher after OECs transplantation than before treatment. SSR latencies were shorter and response amplitudes increased after treatment. Long-term follow-up showed further improvement only in motor function and autonomic function compared with 3 months postoperatively. No complications occurred in any patient during long-term follow-up. The results indicate that the transplantation of OECs in spinal cord restored function without serious side effects.

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Assessment of Chronic Pain in Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Türkiye Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi ◽

10.5152/tftrd.2014.40370 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 188-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ozlem Celik Avluk ◽

Eda Gurcay ◽

Ozgur Zeliha Karaahmet ◽

Ahmet Gurhan Gurcay ◽

Oktay Gurcan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cord Injury

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SOME ASPECTS OF PEDIATRIC SPINAL CORD INJURY

Hirurgiâ pozvonočnika ◽

10.14531/ss2005.4.15-19 ◽

2005 ◽

pp. 015-019

Author(s):

Igor Ivanovich Larkin ◽

Valery Ivanovich Larkin

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Spinal Injury ◽

Radiological Diagnostics ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Mri Changes

Objective. To analyse the possibility of diagnostics improvement in children with spinal cord injuries. Material and Methods. The observations of 147 cases of various spinal cord injuries in children at the age of 11 months to 15 years have been analyzed. Causes of trauma, age peculiarities of spinal injury manifestations, and difficulties of clinical and radiological diagnostics are discussed. Results. Most cases of spinal cord injury in children could be revealed and adequately managed at a prehospital stage. It should be noted that the spine lesion and MRI changes do not always accompany spinal cord injury in children. This observation must be taken into account while making diagnosis. Conclusion. Electromyography is an important examination confirming spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormalities (SCIWORA syndrome) in children.

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