J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2009 Aug;33(4):441-447.

The Change of Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injury Patients during Admission

• Seo JH
• Song KS
• Ko MH
• Park SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the change of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients during admission. METHOD: Thirty eight SCI patients were enrolled. The NBD score by Krogh was converted to the Korean-version of NBD score. The questionnaires of NBD score included questions about neurogenic bowel symptoms, signs, gender, age, duration, injury level, American spinal cord injury association impairment scale (AIS) and Spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) were used for evaluation of the functional impairment of the SCI. The Korean version of NBD score was applied to the SCI patients at the time of admission and discharge. Neurogenic bowel was treated according to scheduled bowel care. The subcomponents of bowel care protocol were education of bowel habit, abdominal massage, triggered defecation, oral medication and rectal stimulants insertion.
RESULTS
The NBD score at the time of discharge decreased significantly in all patients within three months after SCI (p<0.001). Particularly, AIS A, C, D patients (except for cauda equina syndrome patients) (p<0.005) showed significant decrease of NBD score. There were no significant difference of NBD score according to age, sex, injured cord level and SCIM (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
We could reveal the significant improvement of NBD in patients within three months after SCI during admission. The change was more evident in AIS A, C, D patients.

Keyword

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction; Spinal cord injury; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Cytarabine
Defecation
Etoposide
Humans
Massage
Methotrexate
Neurogenic Bowel
Polyradiculopathy
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Cytarabine
Etoposide
Methotrexate