Clinical Spectrum of Peripheral Neuropathy in Post-AcuteSpinal Cord Injured Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of peripheral neuropathy occurring in post-acute spinal cord injury patients. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the distribution of involved nerves in 94 spinal cord injury patients (men 77, mean age 45.2 years) who underwent electrodiagnostic studies at an early stage of rehabilitative therapy between March 1999 and June 2007 and looked for the existence of peripheral neuropathy according to the injured area (cervical/ thoracolumbar cord). RESULTS: The incidence of peripheral neuropathy observed on electrodiagnostic studies was 38.3% (36/94). Twenty-one (46.7%) of 45 patients with injured cervical cords exhibited peripheral neuropathy, and 15 (30.6%) of 49 thoracolumbar cord injury patients exhibited peripheral neuropathy; hence, tetraplegia had a higher incidence. The most commonly involved nerve was the peroneal nerve (24 cases), followed by the median nerve (9 cases) and the ulnar nerve (9 cases). CONCLUSION: The incidence of peripheral neuropathy observed in electrodiagnostic studies was high in spinal cord injury patients at the initiation of intensive rehabilitative therapy. The incidence of peripheral neuropathy in cervical cord injury patients was higher than that seen in thoracolumbar injury patients. Active education and training concerning appropriate bed positioning are necessary for spinal cord injury patients at an early stage after injury to prevent peripheral neuropathy.