HEMIPLEGIC SHOULDER PAIN: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN POST-STROKE PATIENTS AT THE BAFOUSSAM REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke is a serious damage to the brain due to bleeding
or ischemia. It is responsible for multiple functional consequences, on the neuropsychological
and locomotor levels, where the upper limb is particularly affected. The functional
rehabilitation of the hemiplegic upper limb is a real challenge, especially when there is pain in
the shoulder.
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with post-stroke shoulder pain in order
to improve effective management. This is a cross-sectional study in which a case-control
analysis will be performed on 63 vascular hemiplegic patients with a stroke of at least one
month old followed in the physiotherapy department of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital
(HRB). Socio-demographic, clinical, rehabilitation, socio-economic and clinical evaluation
characteristics were studied.
During the study period 78 stroke patients were registered, of which 63 agreed to participate
in the study, 05 declined and the remaining 15 patients did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of
the 63 patients registered and analysed, we had 41 (65%) cases, and 22 (35%) controls. The
number of females was 37 (58.76%) and the number of males 26 (41.24%). Age ranged from
32 to 76 years, with the most affected age group being 50-59 (37%) with an average age of 59
years two months. Ischaemic stroke was described in 80.95% of patients and haemorrhagic
stroke in 19.05% of patients. The prevalence of shoulder pain was 65%. It is therefore a
complication to be feared and special attention should be paid to this complication.