Targin® for Chronic Pain Management in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

This is a Phase 4, open-label prospective cohort study investigating Targin® for treating chronic pain in individuals with sub-acute and chronic spinal cord injuries. Targin® is currently approved for use by Health Canada for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic pain and will be investigated here for the management of moderate-to-severe chronic pain following spinal cord injury. The effectiveness and safety of opioid use for individuals with spinal cord injury has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Additionally, individuals with spinal cord injury using opioids may have the superimposed effect of neurogenic bowel and opioid induced constipation, which may cause increased frequency and severity of autonomic dysreflexia episodes, reduced quality of life, depressive symptoms, and discontinuation of opioid medication. Targin® has the potential to ameliorate these symptoms and improve treatment adherence in individuals with spinal cord injury.