title: Relationship between the interval before high-dose methylprednisolone administration and chronic pain in traumatic spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between the interval before the administration of high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) and pain in traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied the medical records of admitted patients with traumatic SCI at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri- Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan from January 2005 to January 2010. We examined the relationship between the interval before the administration of highdose MP, and the severity of pain and the presence of neuropathic pain (NeP). Patients treated with highdose MP <8 hours after their injuries were defined as the classical-MP group (n=22), and patients who received high-dose MP >/-8 hours after their injuries were defined as the delayed-MP group (n=10). The patients were mailed questionnaires including the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions questionnaire (DN4Q).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SF-MPQ score in the classical-MP group (9.54 +/- 10.4) was almost 2-fold more than in the delayed-MP group (5.9 +/- 3.5). The interval before the administration of high-dose MP was positively correlated with the DN4Q and SF-MPQ scores, although these differences, and associations were not statistically significant. The increased interval in the administration of MP resulted in slightly greater pain and an increased prevalence of NeP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the delayed administration of high-dose MP did not significantly increase the severity of pain or prevalence of NeP, it should still be avoided due to the increased risk of serious side effects.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yung-Tsan
authors: YT
authors: Wu
authors: Tsung-Ying
authors: TY
authors: Li
authors: Heng-Yi
authors: HY
authors: Chu
authors: Liang-Cheng
authors: LC
authors: Chen
authors: Shang-Lin
authors: SL
authors: Chiang
authors: Shin-Tsu
authors: ST
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone