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Self-biting with multiple finger amputations following spinal cord injury
Paraplegia
|October 1, 1985
Summary
Two patients with C4 complete spinal cord injury (SCI) engaged in mutilative self-biting, resulting in finger amputations. This behavior was linked to anxiety and depression in individuals with a history of nail biting.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Traumatology
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to complex psychological and behavioral changes.
- Understanding the range of post-injury complications is crucial for patient care.
Observation:
- Two patients with complete C4 spinal cord injury exhibited severe self-biting behavior.
- This self-injurious behavior resulted in multiple finger amputations.
Findings:
- The self-biting was directly related to feelings of anxiety and depression.
- Both patients had normal intelligence, no psychosis, and a history of neurotic personality traits and fingernail biting.
Implications:
- This study highlights a rare but severe manifestation of psychological distress following SCI.
- Clinicians should be aware of potential self-injurious behaviors in SCI patients, particularly those with pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and effective management strategies for self-biting after SCI.