{"title":"Influence of smoking status and cumulative smoking exposure on neurological recovery after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy: a prospective multicenter study.","authors":"Toshiki Okubo, Narihito Nagoshi, Junichi Yamane, Hitoshi Kono, Yoshiomi Kobayashi, Reo Shibata, Takahiro Kitagawa, Kanehiro Fujiyoshi, Kazuya Kitamura, Takahito Iga, Kazuki Takeda, Masahiro Ozaki, Satoshi Suzuki, Morio Matsumoto, Masaya Nakamura, Kota Watanabe","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01215-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01215-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Prospective multicenter cohort study.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the association of smoking status and cumulative smoking exposure with postoperative neurological outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Multiple institutions in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 935 patients with DCM were categorized as non-, past-, or current-smokers. Demographic characteristics, operative variables, and postoperative outcomes, including the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and recovery rate, JOA Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ), Short Form-36, visual analog scale, and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory, were evaluated over a 2-year follow-up. Postoperative outcomes were analyzed across smoking categories using general linear models. Among current-smokers, cumulative smoking exposure was quantified using the Brinkman index and examined in relation to postoperative outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Differences in postoperative functional outcomes, including the JOA recovery rate and JOACMEQ upper and lower extremity functions, were observed across smoking categories. In contrast, neurological recovery, health-related quality-of-life measures, pain intensity, and overall neuropathic pain scores were generally comparable between the groups. Among current-smokers, cumulative smoking exposure did not demonstrate a clear association with neurological or functional outcomes; however, exploratory analyses identified differences in improvement in specific neuropathic sensory symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Smoking status was associated with differences in postoperative functional recovery after DCM surgery. In contrast, cumulative smoking exposure among current-smokers showed exploratory associations with specific neuropathic sensory outcomes but not with overall neurological or functional recovery. These findings suggest that smoking status and cumulative exposure may influence different outcome domains, supporting smoking cessation as part of preoperative patient management.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-05-05DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01213-1
Hongpeng Ma, Song Liu, Fuqiang Zhu, Shibo Zhu, Qi Zhang, Jian Wang, Yu Qiao, Dayu Pan, Guangzhi Ning
{"title":"Bibliometric analysis of research on spinal cord injury and functional electrical stimulation: trends and frontiers.","authors":"Hongpeng Ma, Song Liu, Fuqiang Zhu, Shibo Zhu, Qi Zhang, Jian Wang, Yu Qiao, Dayu Pan, Guangzhi Ning","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01213-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01213-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Bibliometric analysis OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe central nervous system trauma with no effective treatment methods currently available. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) plays a significant role in the rehabilitation of SCI by employing various stimulation strategies and control methods to effectively assist clinical patients or experimental animals in improving impaired functions. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the research on electrical stimulation therapy in SCI to determine current research trends and emerging frontiers.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Not applicable.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrieve and compile articles related to SCI and FES from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning the years 2005-2024. Perform a bibliometric analysis, integrating statistical and visual methods, utilizing CiteSpace (version 6.2) and R (version 4.3.2).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study ultimately included a total of 1809 publications. The annual number of publications in this field is increasing year by year. China and the United States are the two most productive countries. The journal with the highest number of publications is Experimental Neurology. Additionally, the timeline view of keyword clusters and keyword bursts reveals that the main research frontiers are Exercises, Functional recovery, Neurogenic bladder.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In recent years, studies related to FES treatment for SCI have attracted the attention of many clinicians and scholars. This study, conducts a bibliometric analysis of FES treatment for SCI, aiming to provide practical guidance for clinicians to understand the current research status and trends in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of sexual function and associated clinical factors in women with spinal cord injury: a cross-sectional controlled study.","authors":"Fatma Kumbara, Aslı Turan, Zuhal Özişler, Elif Yalçın","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01212-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01212-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Prospective, cross-sectional, comparative study.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate sexual function in women with spinal cord injury (SCI) using Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and to compare results with healthy controls. Secondary objectives were to determine prevalence of sexual dysfunction and to examine associations between sexual function and neurological level, functional independence, bladder and bowel function, and medical complications.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-six women with SCI and 23 age-matched healthy controls were included. Demographic and obstetric characteristics (age, marital status, educational level, employment status, pregnancy history, number of deliveries, mode of delivery, menstrual status, and contraceptive use) were recorded. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Functional independence was evaluated with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III), and bowel dysfunction was assessed using the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD) score. Group comparisons were performed using non-parametric tests and correlations were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Women with SCI had significantly lower FSFI total and domain scores than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Sexual dysfunction (FSFI < 26.55) was highly prevalent in SCI group. FSFI total scores were not significantly associated with neurological level or ASIA classification. FSFI scores showed a strong positive correlation with SCIM III (r = 0.77, p < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation with NBD scores (r = -0.44, p = 0.024). Urinary incontinence was associated with significantly lower FSFI scores (p = 0.008). FSFI scores differed significantly according to bladder management method with highest scores in spontaneous voiding and lowest in indwelling catheter users (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sexual function is markedly impaired in women with SCI and is strongly related to functional independence, bladder and bowel function and urinary management than to neurological injury level, highlighting need for a multidisciplinary approach in SCI rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147821086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-04-29DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01210-4
Marofe Hossain, Sun Hao, Ahamed Yeasin, Yongxiang Wang
{"title":"Development and validation of an MRI-Based nomogram for predicting neurological recovery after acute cervical spinal cord injury.","authors":"Marofe Hossain, Sun Hao, Ahamed Yeasin, Yongxiang Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01210-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01210-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) leads to severe and variable neurological outcomes. Early, accurate prognosis is crucial for clinical decisions and patient counseling. This study aimed to identify key prognostic factors and develop a reliable, imaging-based nomogram for predicting neurological recovery after surgical treatment.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a retrospective cohort of 103 surgically treated acute traumatic CSCI patients, neurological recovery was defined as ≥1 grade improvement on the ASIA Impairment Scale at 6 months. We analyzed clinical variables and MRI parameters: intramedullary edema length (IEL), intramedullary hemorrhage length (IHL), and maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC). Independent predictors were identified via multivariate logistic regression. A nomogram was built and internally validated using the C-index, calibration curves, ROC analysis, and DCA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Neurological recovery occurred in 73 patients (70.9%). Multivariate analysis identified IEL (OR = 0.904), IHL (OR = 0.808), and MSCC (OR = 0.812) as independent predictors (all p < 0.05). IEL showed a threshold effect at 48 mm, beyond which recovery probability declined markedly. The nomogram demonstrated excellent predictive performance, with C-indices of 0.969 (modeling) and 0.936 (validation). ROC and DCA confirmed its superior accuracy and clinical utility over single parameters.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>IEL, IHL, and MSCC are key imaging-based predictors of recovery after acute CSCI. The developed nomogram provides an accurate, practical tool for individualized prognosis, supporting precision clinical management. MRI-based parameters including intramedullary edema length (IEL), intramedullary hemorrhage length (IHL), and maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC) were integrated into a nomogram model to predict neurological recovery in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147780596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cauda epididymal sperm aspiration as a novel approach for spinal cord injury associated male infertility.","authors":"Yuya Makino, Atsushi Tanaka, Youichi Takemoto, Motoi Nagayoshi, Shigeki Fujimoto, Izumi Tanaka","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01208-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01208-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate cauda epididymal sperm aspiration (CESA) as a sperm retrieval method for men with spinal cord injury (SCI) related paraplegia who were unable to ejaculate.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Retrospective observational study conducted at Saint Mother Clinic, a private fertility center in Japan, using data collected from 2010-2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CESA was performed in 69 men with complete lower-body SCI and anejaculation. Men were categorized according to successful or unsuccessful sperm retrieval. Clinical and hormonal characteristics, sperm quality, and ART outcomes were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CESA successfully retrieved sperm in 42 men (60.9%). Median FSH was 4.6 mIU/mL in successful cases and 12.9 mIU/mL in unsuccessful cases. FSH was the strongest predictor of successful retrieval, with a receiver operating characteristic-derived cutoff of 5.95 mIU/mL. Among successful cases, median sperm concentration was 32 million/mL and median motility was 56%. Among the 35 men who proceeded to ART after successful CESA, 56 clinical pregnancies and 45 live births were achieved across 146 embryo transfer cycles.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In selected men with SCI who are unable to ejaculate, CESA can retrieve large numbers of highly motile sperm suitable for cryopreservation and repeated ICSI use. By reducing the need for repeated surgical retrievals, CESA may offer a practical and less invasive alternative to testicular sperm extraction.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>UMIN000055045, registered July 22, 2024. https: //center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000062867.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147781605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-04-28DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01209-x
Yuquan Liu, Haoyu Liu, Bin Zhu, Lingjia Yu, Haibo Sun, Haining Tan, Ning Liu, Guangpeng Li, Junwei Zhang, Zhen Lyu, Yong Yang, Xiang Li
{"title":"Comprehensive and visualized analysis of the global application of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury: A Bibliometric Study.","authors":"Yuquan Liu, Haoyu Liu, Bin Zhu, Lingjia Yu, Haibo Sun, Haining Tan, Ning Liu, Guangpeng Li, Junwei Zhang, Zhen Lyu, Yong Yang, Xiang Li","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01209-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01209-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Bibliometric analysis.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the global application of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) and identify status and emerging trends in SCI research.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Not applicable.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Articles published between 2020 and 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Data on disciplines, ISNCSCI versions, research aims, journals, keywords, countries, authors, and collaboration patterns were manually extracted. Visualization and mapping analyses were performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 595 articles involving 3498 authors from 46 countries were included. Among them, 569 were ISNCSCI application studies and 26 were development or version-related studies. Within the application studies, the leading disciplines were neurology (507 articles), orthopedics (180), and rehabilitation (179). The 2011 ISNCSCI edition was the most frequently reported version (30.8%), although 56.2% of studies did not specify the version. The journals publishing the most articles were Spinal Cord, Journal of Neurotrauma, and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The main research topics were SCI prognosis (15.8%), rehabilitation efficacy (15.4%), and SCI-related complications (15.4%). The United States, China, and Canada were the top publishing countries. Frequently emerging keywords in 2023 included \"predictors,\" \"cardiovascular disease,\" \"features,\" and \"disability.\"</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ISNCSCI is a widely accepted standardized tool in SCI research and clinical practice. The field is characterized by expanding international participation, stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, and increasingly diverse applications. Better reporting of ISNCSCI versions may improve consistency and comparability across future studies.</p><p><strong>Sponsorship: </strong>None.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147780193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-04-27DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01206-0
Thorsten Rudroff
{"title":"Reply to: \"comment on 'spinal cord metabolism in multiple sclerosis: a decade of missed opportunities and future directions\".","authors":"Thorsten Rudroff","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01206-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01206-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147780631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-04-27DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01207-z
Hatice Ceylan, Bilge Yilmaz
{"title":"Comment on \"Spinal cord metabolism in multiple sclerosis: a decade of missed opportunities and future directions\".","authors":"Hatice Ceylan, Bilge Yilmaz","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01207-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01207-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147780161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-04-27DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01205-1
Yule Hu, Yueying Wang, Meizhen Huang, Daniel D Hodgkiss, Tom E Nightingale, Mengqi Li, Kun Li, Yan Li, Angela Y M Leung
{"title":"The relationship between depression and cognitive function among adults with spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Yule Hu, Yueying Wang, Meizhen Huang, Daniel D Hodgkiss, Tom E Nightingale, Mengqi Li, Kun Li, Yan Li, Angela Y M Leung","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01205-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01205-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Despite a growing prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression after spinal cord injury (SCI), evidence of associations between specific cognitive domains and processes with depressive symptoms remains uncertain. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relationship between cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in adults with SCI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024523479). Seven databases were searched from inception to March 2025. Eligible studies assessed depression and cognitive function in adults with SCI and were published in English. Cognitive functions included self-reported subjective cognitive failures and objective cognitive functions assessed by neuropsychological tests. Study quality was assessed via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies (three cohort, seven cross-sectional; N = 1683 participants) were included, with seven studies eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled results revealed that elevated depressive symptoms are significantly associated with global cognitive impairment, whereas there were no associations with subjective cognitive decline or deficits in specific domains (i.e., executive function, attention, and learning and memory).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adults with SCI who have impaired global cognitive function exhibit higher levels of depressive symptoms. Interventions targeting either depression or cognitive function may yield concomitant benefits on both outcomes, thereby enhancing health-related quality of life of the SCI population. More prospective studies are needed to investigate the relationship between depression severity and specific cognitive domains and to elucidate their potential causal mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147780876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spinal cordPub Date : 2026-04-24DOI: 10.1038/s41393-026-01203-3
Natália Mb Bezerra, Lilian L Lisboa, Romulo Al Vasconcelos, Klaus Krogh, Cristiano M Gomes, Adriano A Calado
{"title":"Cultural adaptation and validation for Brazilian portuguese of the MENTOR tool: monitoring the efficacy of neurogenic bowel treatment.","authors":"Natália Mb Bezerra, Lilian L Lisboa, Romulo Al Vasconcelos, Klaus Krogh, Cristiano M Gomes, Adriano A Calado","doi":"10.1038/s41393-026-01203-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-026-01203-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Cross-sectional study of cultural adaptation and validation.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To translate and validate the MENTOR Tool, an instrument designed to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) and to support more objective clinical decision-making in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Individuals with SCI treated at the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center, Macaiba/RN, and at Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Recife/PE, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-cultural adaptation was conducted at two specialized referral centers for SCI, following the international methodology proposed by Guillemin et al. The MENTOR Tool was administered as an interview and reapplied after an interval of 7 to 21 days. In addition, participants completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). The following measurement properties were evaluated: reproducibility, internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>50 individuals participated in the study. The MENTOR Tool demonstrated excellent reproducibility, with an intraclass correlation coeficiente (ICC) of 0.974, Internal consistency was acceptable, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.61. Construct Validity was supported by significant correlations between the final Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score (NBDS) and GSRS scores, as well as between GSRS scores and the final MENTOR rating. Additionally, statistically significant differences were observed among the three MENTOR categories.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The MENTOR tool was successfully translated and validated into Brazilian Portuguese, demonstrating reliability and reproducibility for monitoring bowel treatment effectiveness in individuals with SCI and supporting clinical decision-making in the management of NBD.</p>","PeriodicalId":21976,"journal":{"name":"Spinal cord","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147780554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}