Article
Neuropathic pain after spinal intradural benign tumour surgery – an underestimated complication?
Neuropathische Schmerzen nach intraduraler spinaler Tumorchirurgie: eine unterschätzte Komplikation?
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Published: | May 25, 2022 |
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Outline
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Objective: Neuropathic pain may present a burdening and impairing condition after spinal intradural tumor surgery. While it has been described in peripheral nerve sheath tumors, data on other intradural tumor patients remains sparse. We hereby present a large cohort population undergoing different intradural spinal tumor surgery with assessment of early postoperative and follow-up outcomes, focusing on the occurrence of neuropathic pain.
Methods: Retrospective monocentric study including all patients treated for intradural spinal tumors between 2009 and 2020. We extracted surgical data as well as pre- and postoperative clinical courses from the records. Statistical analysis of potential contributing prognostic factors was performed.
Results: In total, we included 360 patients for analysis. At a median follow-up of two years, 26/360 patients complained of a neuropathic pain syndrome (7.2%) requiring continuous pain medication. Of these patients only 50% complained preoperatively of pain. Tumor entity did not significantly influence the incidence of postoperative neuropathic pain (p=0.91). Sacrifice of the tumor carrying nerve root and tumor recurrence also did not increase the risk for this condition.
Conclusion: Persistent neuropathic pain requiring continuous treatment occurred in 7.2% of patients undergoing intradural spinal surgery in our cohort. This frequently underestimated postoperative adverse event represents a disabling condition leading to a substantial impairment in the quality of life among the affected patients.