Cross-cultural adaptation to the Thai language of the neuropathic pain diagnostic questionnaire (DN4).

OBJECTIVE: To cross-culturally adapt the neuropathic pain diagnostic questionnaire (DN4) to Thai language MATERIAL AND METHOD: Phase 1: Forward and backward translation followed by assessment of semantic equivalence. Phase 2: Testing of the questionnaire in 30 neuropathic pain patients who were seen and diagnosed by experts, followed by modifications to produce a final version. RESULTS: All the Thai translated pain descriptors except 'tingling' got high percentages of understanding among neuropathic pain patients in the first round of testing. After some adaptation of the Thai word for 'tingling' had been made, the new translated word was retested, and all subjects doing the retest understood the word very well. CONCLUSION: The Thai DN4 questionnaire was systematically translated and validated. This offers a simple Thai neuropathic pain diagnostic tool for clinical use.

Holistic management of traumatic spinal cord injury resulting from a fracture of T-09 vertebra.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is an disastrous condition resulting in not only disability and handicap to the victims but also profound psychological damage. We report a case of complete spinal cord injury resulting from a fracture of T-9 vertebra in a car accident. Emergency management is needed to prevent further damage to the neural tissue, as well as to treat a life threatening condition. Surgical treatment to maintain spinal alignment and stability provides early mobilization to prevent the complications caused by the immobilization syndrome. A holistic approach to management is fundamental to the rehabilitation program. Although physical impairment and disability are permanent, psychosocial management focused on cognitive and behavioral modification together with home modification plays an important role in reducing disability and handicap and allowing a patient to return to his home and previous social function with the best quality of life as possible.