The reported rate did not appear to be related to study quality .
Pain prevalence in the combined sample s did not appreciably differ between males and females , those with complete versus incomplete SCI , and those with paraplegia versus tetraplegia .
We conclude that too much heterogeneity was present in the reports to calculate a post-SCI pain prevalence rate using meta-analytic methods .
Published studies have reported widely divergent estimates of the prevalence of chronic pain among individuals with ( traumatic ) spinal cord injury ( SCI ) .
Non-painful sensory phenomena after spinal cord injury
OBJECTIVES Non-painful sensory phenomena or “ phantom ” sensations are common after spinal cord injury . However , the physiological mechanisms responsible for these sensations are poorly understood . The aim of this study , therefore , was to document in a prospect i ve fashion the time course , prevalence , and features of non-painful sensory phenomena after spinal cord injury , and to determine whether there was a relation between the presence of these sensations and completeness , level of injury , and type of spinal cord injury . METHODS Patients admitted to an acute spinal injuries unit were interviewed after admission and at several time points over a 2 year period to determine the presence and characteristics of non-painful sensations . Sensations were divided into simple and complex , with complex referring to sensations that incorporated a sensation of volume , length , posture , or movement . RESULTS The present study showed that the large majority ( 90 % ) of patients experience either type of sensation and most complex sensations ( 60 % ) are first experienced within 24 hours after the injury . Complex sensations were more common in those patients who had complete spinal cord injuries . The presence of either type of sensation did not seem to be related to the level of injury or the type of injury ( cord syndrome ) . A relatively small proportion ( 22 % ) of patients reported that the postural sensations were related to their position at the time of injury and sensations were more commonly related to a familiar , comfortable , or often used position before the spinal cord injury . CONCLUSION Complex sensations such as postural illusions seem to be due to functional changes in the CNS that may occur almost immediately after spinal cord injury . These sensations may be related to a strong sensory memory “ imprint ” that has been established before injury
The reported rate did not appear to be related to study quality .
Pain prevalence in the combined sample s did not appreciably differ between males and females , those with complete versus incomplete SCI , and those with paraplegia versus tetraplegia .
We conclude that too much heterogeneity was present in the reports to calculate a post-SCI pain prevalence rate using meta-analytic methods .
Published studies have reported widely divergent estimates of the prevalence of chronic pain among individuals with ( traumatic ) spinal cord injury ( SCI ) .