RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: To conduct an exploratory cross-sectional study carried out in the city of Fortaleza (Ceara, Brazil) with the aim of evaluating the relation between central neuropathic pain and the quality of life in individuals with central neuropathic pain due to traumatic injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study examined the cases of 17 adult paraplegic patients with complete traumatic injuries, mainly due to perforations caused by gunshot wounds. The sample was divided into two groups: 1) those with pain, and 2) those with intense pain (more than 20 points according to McGill and eight on the numerical visual scale). The instruments used were the following: the MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the McGill pain questionnaire, oriented towards the descriptors and the numerical visual scale. RESULTS: The quality of life of patients with central neuropathic pain due to a spinal cord injury is greatly compromised and when the pain is intense the quality of life is even more effected, especially in the following areas: "functional capacity" (p = 0.005), "general state of health" (p = 0.003), "mental health" (p = 0.035), "social aspects" (p = 0.006) and "pain" (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life in patients with neuropathic pain due to a traumatic spinal cord injury is severely compromised and the more intense this pain is, the greater its effect on the quality of life will be. It can also be stated that the instruments used were valid for this type of patients (in spite of certain shortcomings) given the complexity and subjectivity of the matter.
Asunto(s)
Dolor , Traumatismos de la Médula Espinal/fisiopatología , Actividades Cotidianas , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Dimensión del Dolor , Calidad de Vida , Traumatismos de la Médula Espinal/patología , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Introducción y objetivos. Investigación transversal exploratoria con el objetivo de evaluar la relación entre el dolor neuropático central y la calidad de vida en los individuos portadores de dolor neuropático central secundario a una lesión traumática dela ciudad de Fortaleza (Ceará, Brasil). Pacientes y métodos. Participaron en el estudio 17 pacientes parapléjicos adultos, con una lesión completa, de etiología traumática, principalmente por perforación por arma de fuego. La muestra se estratificó en dos grupos:1) con dolor y 2) con dolor intenso (por encima de los 20 puntos según McGill y de ocho según la escala visual numérica). Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), y el cuestionario del dolor de McGill, orientados a los descriptores y a la escala visual numérica. Resultados. Los pacientes con dolor neuropático central secundario a la lesión medular sufren una gran afectación en su calidad de vida y cuando el dolor es intenso, la calidad de vida se ve más afectada, especialmente en las áreas de 'capacidad funcional' (p = 0,005), 'estado general de la salud' (p = 0,003), salud mental (p = 0,035), 'aspectos sociales' (p = 0,006) y dolor (p = 0,003). Conclusión. El paciente con dolor neuropático secundario a la lesión medular traumática sufre una gran afectación en su calidad de vida. Cuando este dolor es de gran intensidad, la afectación resulta aún mayor. También se puede decir que los instrumentos utilizados fueron válidos para este perfil de pacientes, a pesar de presentar algunas limitaciones, dada la complejidad y subjetividad del tema (AU)
Introduction and aims. To conduct an exploratory cross-sectional study carried out in the city of Fortaleza (Ceará,Brazil) with the aim of evaluating the relation between central neuropathic pain and the quality of life in individuals with central neuropathic pain due to traumatic injury. Patients and methods. The study examined the cases of 17 adult paraplegic patients with complete traumatic injuries, mainly due to perforations caused by gunshot wounds. The sample was divided into two groups: 1) those with pain, and 2) those with intense pain (more than 20 points according to McGill and eight on the numerical visual scale). The instruments used were the following: the MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the McGill pain questionnaire, oriented towards the descriptors and the numerical visual scale. Results. The quality of life of patients with central neuropathic pain due to a spinal cord injury is greatly compromised and when the pain is intense the quality of life is even more effected, especially in the following areas: functional capacity (p = 0.005), general state of health(p = 0.003), 'mental health' (p = 0.035), social aspects (p = 0.006) and pain (p = 0.003). Conclusions. The quality of life in patients with neuropathic pain due to a traumatic spinal cord injury is severely compromised and the more intense this pain is, the greater its effect on the quality of life will be. It can also be stated that the instruments used were valid for this type of patients (in spite of certain shortcomings) given the complexity and subjectivity of the matter (AU)