Prevalence of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q3 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111660

Fatemeh Salehian , Aryan Aarabi , Shahryar Rajai Firouzabadi , Mohammadreza Alinejadfard , Soroush Oraee , Ida Mohammadi , Roozbeh Tavanaei , Mehri Salari

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating condition following spinal cord injury (SCI), reducing quality of life and producing a significant economic burden. Although previous studies have attempted to measure its prevalence, they were limited by inadequate classification systems. Furthermore, determinants of NP prevalence are a point of contention in the literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the prevalence and determinants of NP after SCI.

Methods

PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on March 17th, 2024. Studies reporting NP prevalence using valid classification systems in an adult population were included. Proportional meta-analysis was performed alongside meta-regressions for age, gender, time since injury, and ratio of traumatic SCI, subgroup analysis of injury severity, neurological level of injury (NLI), and level of NP. Quality assessment was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results

24 studies (n = 6,318) with low to moderate risk of bias were included. The pooled prevalence of NP was 57 % (95CI: 51 %, 64 %) with significant heterogeneity (I² = 96.2 %) and no publication bias. Subgroup analyses revealed prevalence rates of 30 %, 20 %, and 5 % for below-level, at-level, and at and below level NP. Age, gender, traumatic etiology, time since injury, injury severity, acute vs chronic SCI, and NLI did not affect the prevalence rate, yet the type of classification system did (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

NP is prevalent after SCI and similarly affects people with different injury severity, NLI, etiology, age, and gender. The classification system used affects the prevalence rate. Further studies should aim to create a standardized classification system.

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脊髓损伤后神经性疼痛的患病率：一项最新的系统综述和荟萃分析

背景：神经性疼痛（NP）是脊髓损伤（SCI）后的一种衰弱性疾病，降低生活质量并产生重大的经济负担。虽然以前的研究试图衡量其流行程度，但它们受到分类系统不充分的限制。此外，NP流行的决定因素是文献中争论的焦点。本系统综述和荟萃分析旨在确定脊髓损伤后NP的患病率和决定因素。方法于2024年3月17日检索spubmed /Medline、Scopus、Web of Science。研究报告NP流行使用有效的分类系统在成人人群中包括。对年龄、性别、受伤后时间、外伤性脊髓损伤比例、损伤严重程度亚组分析、神经损伤水平（NLI）和NP水平进行比例荟萃分析。质量评估采用改良版的纽卡斯尔-渥太华量表进行评估。结果纳入了24项低至中等偏倚风险的研究（n = 6318）。NP的总患病率为57% (95CI: 51%, 64%)，具有显著的异质性（I2 = 96.2%），无发表偏倚。亚组分析显示，NP水平以下、水平上、水平及水平以下的患病率分别为30%、20%和5%。年龄、性别、创伤病因、损伤发生时间、损伤严重程度、急性与慢性SCI、NLI对患病率没有影响，而分类系统类型对患病率有影响（p < 0.01）。结论脊髓损伤后np普遍存在，不同损伤程度、不同NLI、不同病因、不同年龄、不同性别的患者均有相似的影响。使用的分类系统会影响患病率。进一步的研究应旨在建立一个标准化的分类体系。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

402

审稿时长

40 days

期刊介绍： This International journal, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, publishes articles on clinical neurosurgery and neurology and the related neurosciences such as neuro-pathology, neuro-radiology, neuro-ophthalmology and neuro-physiology. The journal has a broad International perspective, and emphasises the advances occurring in Asia, the Pacific Rim region, Europe and North America. The Journal acts as a focus for publication of major clinical and laboratory research, as well as publishing solicited manuscripts on specific subjects from experts, case reports and other information of interest to clinicians working in the clinical neurosciences.