Incidence of chronic pain following traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To index the frequency of reported chronic pain in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
A case series study was conducted on consecutive patients with TBI.


METHODS
TBI patients were recruited from an adult tertiary care center brain injury clinic.


METHODS
A consecutive sample of 132 patients who attended a brain injury rehabilitation center after TBI. The sample included 53 mild and 79 moderate/severe TBI patients.


METHODS
Patients were administered a protocol that indexed pain site, frequency, severity, and duration.


RESULTS
Chronic pain was reported by 58% of mild TBI and 52% of moderate/severe TBI patients. Headaches were the most commonly reported pain problem. Chronic headaches were reported by 47% of mild TBI patients and 34% of moderate/ severe TBI patients. Neck/shoulder, back, upper limb, and lower limb pain were reported similarly by mild and moderate/severe TBI patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that chronic pain is a significant problem in mild and moderate/severe TBI patients. More effective diagnosis of TBI patients with chronic pain may facilitate rehabilitation of these patients.
Lahz
S
S
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
Bryant
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*