What are the risk factors of occurence and chronicity of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients?

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the epidemiological data on neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients and determine the risk factors for its occurrence and chronicity.

Method: Review and analysis of the literature.

Results: Epidemiological data report that 40% of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients suffer from neuropathic pain and 40% of these patients report an intense neuropathic pain. Some factors do not seem to be predictive for the onset of neuropathic pain: the level of injury, complete or incomplete injury, the existence of an initial surgery, sex. However, old age at the time of injury, bullet injury as the cause of trauma, early onset of pain in the weeks following the injury, their initial nature, intensity and continuous pain, as well as associated symptoms all appear to be negative prognostic factors.

Conclusion: Neuropathic pain in SCI patients is a major issue, its determining factors still need to be evaluated properly by refining the epidemiological data.