Abstract

Evaluation of pain syndromes in war veterans with spinal cord injury

Author(s):Ahmad Zeinali, Abolghasem Rahimdel, Amir Hosein Mashayekh, Ali Moosavi Rad and Ali Mellat

Chronic pain is one of the most important problems in patients with spinal cord injury. The pain may occur for unknown reasons, but in most cases it is due to damage to the nerves due to spinal cord injury or musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of pain syndromes in veterans of war and relationship between age, gender and severity of spinal cord injury with treatment response in such people. This was is a descriptive study on spinal cord injury victims in Yazd and Isfahan from May to November 2015. First, a questionnaire was prepared in which information such as age, duration of disease, pain, level of injury and the type of drug were included. The patients were examined individually to determine the level of damage properly. Finally, by statistical analysis of data obtained, their relationship was examined. In this study, 50 people with injured spinal cord in the provinces of Yazd and Isfahan (18 out of Yazd Province and 32 from the province) were evaluated, of which 13 complexities were in the cervical level (neck), 27 in the thoracic region and 10 in the lumbar region. The lowest age was 39 years and oldest age was 50 years. Statistical analysis of the relationship between pain and level of spinal cord injury showed that no significant relationship between severity of pain and level of spinal cord injury. Statistical analysis of the relationship between severity of pain and age suggested that older patients had complained of less pain than patients with lower ages. It seems that due to the problems facing patients with spinal defects, especially disabled veterans, comprehensive program must be carried out by relevant institutions to facilitate the treatment of these people and increase the quality of their life.

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