Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2017 · DOI: 10.1038/scsandc.2016.36 · Published: May 18, 2017
This correspondence discusses a study that compares amitriptyline and lamotrigine for treating neuropathic pain following traumatic spinal cord injuries. It points out that existing research on this topic mainly focuses on comparing drugs to placebos, rather than direct comparisons between different active drugs. The correspondence raises concerns about the clinical interpretation of the original study's results, particularly regarding the lack of clarity on the primary outcome and statistical power.
Future studies should clearly define primary outcomes and report statistical power to ensure reliable results.
Detailed patient characteristics and their distribution across treatment groups are crucial for understanding study findings.
More research is needed to directly compare different drugs for neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients.