Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and its Impact on Quality of Life in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Introduction: Spinal cord injury causes extensive musculoskeletal insult, which results in temporary or permanent dysfunction in motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. This study aimed to assess neurogenic bowel dysfunction in spinal cord injury patients and its impact on quality of life. Methodology: A total of 100 patients with spinal cord injury presenting after six months of injury were clinically evaluated for level, extent, and severity according to ASIA scale. International spinal cord injury bowel function basic data set version-2 regarding bowel functions of the last month was filled and neurogenic bowel dysfunction score was calculated. Overall impact of neurogenic bowel dysfunction on quality of life in the last week was assessed using Likert-type questionnare. Results: Upper motor neuron neurogenic bowel was present in majority of patients (81%). 88% of study patients had history of two to six times per week frequency of defecation, defecation duration of 78% patients were 31 to 60 minutes. Around 48% study patients were suffered from moderate neurogenic bowel dysfunction. There was statistically significant association between neurogenic bowel dysfunction grade with age groups, ASIA grade and types of neurogenic bowel. 58% patients’ quality of life was impacted due to neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Conclusions: SCI has a significant effect on neurogenic bowel in term of faecal incontinence, defecation time, constipation, method of bowel management. Association of NBD with age group, type of neurological bowel, ASIA grading was found statistically significant. During the early stage of rehabilitation, an appropriate bowel program should be carefully designed to prevent bowel dysfunction, and to improve quality of life.