Minimally invasive therapy & allied technologies : MITAT : official journal of the Society for Minimally Invasive Therapy
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Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol · Apr 2004
Epidural spinal cord stimulation in chronic non-reconstructible limb ischemia.
For patients with chronic non-reconstructible limb ischemia (chronic CLI), spinal-cord stimulation (SCS) has been advocated for the treatment of ischemic pain and prevention of amputation. The present clinical report was performed to evaluate the long-term effects of SCS on limb survival. A retrospective review was performed of 21 patients who had undergone SCS between December 1997 and July 2002 due to chronic CLI. ⋯ Major amputation could be avoided in 15 (71%) of 21 patients. Two electrode dislocation, one pulse-generator dislocation, and one wire disconnection occurred; no other complications were observed. SCS represents a safe and effective therapy for patients with chronic non-reconstructible critical limb ischemia.