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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2016; 74(11): 895-901
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160149
ARTICLE

High prevalence of neuropathic pain in the hand of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury: a cross-sectional study

Alta prevalência de dor neuropática em sujeitos com lesão traumática do plexo braquial: um estudo de corte transversal
Marcus V. B. Santana
1   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Graduação em Medicina e Saúde, Salvador BA, Brasil;
2   Faculdade de Medicina Baiana e Saúde Pública, Salvador BA, Brasil;
,
Mauro T. Bina
3   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador BA, Brasil;
,
Matheus G. Paz
3   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador BA, Brasil;
,
Scheila N. Santos
3   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador BA, Brasil;
,
Manoel J. Teixeira
4   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil;
,
Irina Raicher
4   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil;
,
José V. Martins
5   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Deolindo Couto de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.
,
Daniel C. Araujo Andrade
4   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil;
,
Abrahão F. Baptista
1   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Graduação em Medicina e Saúde, Salvador BA, Brasil;
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ABSTRACT

Objective To describe the pain profile of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury.

Methods We enrolled 65 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. The Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire was used to classify pain and the SF-36 was used to evaluate quality of life.

Results The patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury were predominantly young male victims of motorcycle accidents. Pain was present in 75.4% of the individuals and 79% presented with neuropathic pain, mostly located in the hands (30.41%). The use of auxiliary devices (p = 0.05) and marital status (p = 0.03) were both independent predictors of pain. Pain also impacted negatively on the quality of life (p = 0.001).

Conclusions Pain is frequent in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. Despite the peripheral nervous system injury, nociceptive pain is not unusual. Pain evaluation, including validated instruments, is essential to guide optimal clinical management of patients with the condition.

RESUMO

Objetivo Descrever o perfil de dor de sujeitos com lesão traumática do plexo braquial.

Métodos Nós incluímos 65 indivíduos com lesão traumática do plexo braquial. O Douleur Neuropathique 4 foi usado para classificar a dor e o SF-36 foi usado para avaliar a qualidade de vida.

Resultados Sujeitos com lesão traumática do plexo braquial eram em sua maioria homens jovens, vítimas de acidentes motociclísticos. A dor esteve presete em 75.4% dos indivíduos e 79% deles apresentaram dor neuropática, mais frequentemente localizada nas mãos (30.41%). O uso de dispositivos auxiliares (p = 0.05) e o estado civil foram, ambos, preditores independentes de dor. A dor ainda impactou negativamente da qualidade de vida (p = 0.001).

Conclusões A dor é frequente em sujeitos com lesão traumática do plexo braquial. Apesar de envolver uma lesão do sistema nervoso a dor nociceptiva não é infrequente. A avaliação da dor, incluindo instrumentos validados, é essencial para direcionar as condutas clínicas de sujeitos com esta condição.

brachial plexus - nociceptive pain - pain - peripheral nerve injuries
plexo braquial - dor nociceptiva - dor - traumatismos dos nervos periféricos


Publication History

Received: 14 April 2016

Accepted: 16 August 2016

Article published online:
06 September 2023

© 2023. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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