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cal levels of injury were incomplete tetraplegia (38%,
n = 122) and incomplete paraplegia (30%, n = 95). Indi-
viduals with AIS grade C (37%, n = 117) were the most
common, followed by AIS grade A (32%, n = 102). At
the time of interview 63% of participants (200/318)
reported pain in the previous week. The mean CHART
social integration index was 74 ± 20. Individuals with
medium social integration (72%, n = 229) were the
most common. Further details of subjects’ characte-
ristics are summarized in Table I.
Table I. Demographic and clinical characteristics of studied
patients (n = 318)
Characteristics
Age at injury, mean (SD)
<35 years
35–65 years
>65 years
Time post-injury, mean (SD)
< 3 years
3–6 years
> 6 years
Sex, n (%)
Male
Female
Educational status, n (%)
< High school
High school
> High school
Mechanism of injury, n (%)
Sport or leisure
Assault
Traffic accident
Fall
Other traumatic
Level of injury, n (%)
Complete paraplegia
Incomplete paraplegia
Complete tetraplegia
Incomplete tetraplegia
AIS grade, n (%)
A
B
C
D
Operation, n (%)
Yes
No
Mobility status, n (%)
Wheelchair dependent
Walking with aid
Walking independently
Employment status at interview, n (%)
Not working
Working/student
Pain, n (%)
Yes
No
Relationship status, n (%)
Married/co-habitation
Single/separated/widowed
Not reported
Social integration index, mean (SD)
Social integration, n (%)
Low
Medium
High
41 (13)
64 (20)
229 (72)
25 (8)
4 (2)
133 (42)
121 (38)
64 (20)
Chronic pain was reported by 63% (200/318) of sub-
jects. The DN4 was completed by those who reported
pain, and on analysis, 45% (n = 90) scored 3 or more
for their worst pain, indicating a NP presentation, the
remainder (55%, n = 110) scored less than 3, indicating
a nociceptive pain presentation. As summarized in Fig.
1a, those with NP (n = 39, 43%) and nociceptive pain
(n = 56, 51%) reported the back as the most common
painful area. NP occurred significantly more frequently
in the lower extremities (36%) compared with nocice-
ptive pain (28%). As anticipated, a significantly higher
proportion of those with NP identified DN4 descriptor
items (see Fig. 1b).
A significantly higher percentage of severe pain
(34%) and lower percentage of mild pain (18%) were
observed in those with NP, compared with those with
nociceptive pain. Moderate pain was similar between
groups (see Fig. 2a).
242 (76)
76 (24)
213 (67)
95 (30)
10 (3)
10 (3)
7 (2)
64 (20)
111 (35)
126 (40)
41 (13)
95 (30)
60 (19)
122 (38)
102 (32)
64 (20)
117 (37)
35 (11)
267 (84)
51 (16)
232 (73)
60 (19)
24 (8)
302 (95)
16 (5)
200 (63)
118 (37)
226 (71)
86 (27)
6 (2)
74 (20)
57 (18)
229 (72)
32 (10)
AIS: American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade; SD:
standard deviation.
www.medicaljournals.se/jrm
Pain
Fig. 1. (a) Pain locations and (b) pain descriptors in spinal cord
injured individuals with nociceptive and neuropathic pain. UEs: upper
extremities; LEs: lower extremities. *Significant difference with respect
to nociceptive pain (p < 0.05).