Management of Chronic Central Neuropathic Pain Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

The Executive summary of the federal report on available evidence for management of chronic central neuropathic pain following traumatic spinal cord injury is presented. This report is one in a series of technology assessment monographs commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services to define current state of the art in important health care issues. A comprehensive literature search led to conclusions about the diagnosis, assessment and natural history of central neuropathic pain. The report documents a dearth of evidence on pharmacological therapy and addresses available evidence on central nervous system stimulation and lesioning.

Key Words:

• Pain
• neuropathic
• central
• diagnosis
• assessment
• natural history
• pharmacotherapy
• stimulation
• lesioning