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

, Seo, Jeong Hwan; , Song, Kwang Seop; , Ko, Myoung Hwan; , Park, Sung Hee

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009;33(4):441-447.

Seo, Jeong Hwan , Song, Kwang Seop , Ko, Myoung Hwan , Park, Sung Hee

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Institute for Medical Sciences and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Korea. song-kwang-seop@hanmail.net

척수 손상 환자에서 입원 치료 후 신경인성 장 기능의 호전

서정환, 송광섭, 고명환, 박성희

전북대학교 의학전문대학원 재활의학교실, 의과학연구소 및 임상의학연구소

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. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 441-447)

Key Words: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction, Spinal cord injury, Quality of life