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)
