• Amedeo Costantini, Eric Buchser, and Jean Pierre Van Buyten.
• Pain Clinic, Ospedale Clinicizzato S.S. Annunziata, Chieti, Italy. chieti@asichieti.it
• Neuromodulation. 2010 Oct 1;13(4):275-9; discussion 279-80.

ObjectiveChronic back and leg pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is common in the elderly. Surgical decompression is usually performed when conservative treatments fail. We present an evaluation of the long-term outcome of patients suffering from symptomatic LSS treated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS).Materials And MethodsData were collected prospectively in three independent registries in three European centers. Pooled data were analyzed retrospectively. Changes in pain intensity, functional status, and analgesic medication were compared at baseline and at the last available follow-up. Demographic data as well as details regarding the implantation procedure and any adverse events were systematically recorded.ResultsData were recorded in 69 patients with a mean follow-up period of 27 months. All patients showed clinically and statistically significant improvement in pain relief, the visual analog scale decreasing from 7.4 ± 2.3 to 2.8 ± 2.4 (p < 0.05). The use of analgesic medication decreased and the functional status improved.ConclusionSpinal cord stimulation seems to be effective in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain associated with LSS. Being less invasive and reversible, SCS should be considered before surgical decompression, particularly in patients with increased risks associated with back surgery.© 2010 International Neuromodulation Society.

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