Bowel dysfunction in spinal-cord-injury patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, nature, and effects--both physical and psychological--of spinal-cord-injury (SCI) on bowel function. METHODS: 115 consecutive hospital outpatients (89 male, median age 38 years) with chronic SCI (median duration 62 months, range 9-491 months, 48% cervical, 47% thoracic, 5% lumbar) completed a questionnaire about pre and post injury bowel function, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and self assessment of the impact of their disabilities and symptoms. FINDINGS: Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, and fecal incontinence were all much more common (p<0.0001) after SCI. 95% of patients required at least one therapeutic method t..