Neurosurg Focus
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is the most commonly used implantable neurostimulation modality for management of pain syndromes. In this paper the authors describe the current indications for SCS and its efficacy in the treatment of those diseases. Specifically, the literature on patient selection and outcomes after SCS for failed-back surgery syndrome (FBSS), refractory angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disease, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type I was reviewed. ⋯ Patients with inoperable PVD also demonstrated significant improvements in pain relief, QOL, and limb mobility. Reported complications were mostly related to hardware and were relatively minor. Review of randomized controlled studies supports the use of SCS as an effective treatment modality for pain associated with FBSS, refractory angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disease, and CRPS Type I.
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The purpose of this study was to describe a novel technology for implantable neuromuscular stimulation to treat complications of paralysis and disuse atrophy, including shoulder subluxation, hand contractures, drop foot, and osteoarthritis. The authors review the results so far of several pilot clinical studies of these muscle stimulation devices. ⋯ Injected microstimulators represent a promising new class of technology for the rehabilitation of patients with upper motor neuropathies. As the technology evolves, practitioners may be able to use it to facilitate functional reanimation of paralyzed limbs.
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Trigeminal neuropathic pain is a syndrome of severe, constant facial pain related to disease of or injury to the trigeminal nerve or ganglion. Causes of this type of pain can include injury from sinus or dental surgery, skull and/or facial trauma, or intentional destruction for therapeutic reasons (deafferentation) as well as intrinsic pathological conditions in any part of the trigeminal system. ⋯ The authors present a review of the literature, focusing on surgical technique, device programming, safety, and efficacy, and suggest some initial guidelines for standardization of these aspects. It is important to evaluate MCS critically in a prospective, controlled fashion.
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Cerebral vasospasm is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who have sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysm rupture. Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm is also a strong predictor of poor clinical outcome and has thus drawn a great deal of interest from cerebrovascular surgeons. ⋯ The rapid advancements in endovascular techniques and pharmacological agents used to combat this pathological state continue to offer promise in broadening the available treatment armamentarium. In this article the authors discuss the rationale and basis for using the various endovascular options for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm, and they also discuss the limitations, complications, and efficacy of these treatment strategies in regard to neurological condition and outcome.
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Review Comparative Study
Update on evidence for a genetic predisposition to cerebral vasospasm.
Considerable evidence links cerebral vasospasm to the decreased bioavailability of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In recent studies from the cardiology literature, researchers have suggested that a genetic predisposition to coronary vasospasm might develop as the result of a T-786C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the eNOS gene. The authors of this study attempted to determine if there may be a similar genetic predisposition toward cerebral vasospasm. ⋯ The findings from this preliminary study support similar findings in the coronary vasospasm literature as well as the hypothesis that a predisposition toward cerebral vasospasm may be related partially to genetic factors, which needs to be confirmed in a larger study. Such gene-based information may be important in rapidly identifying patients at increased risk of vasospasm after SAH, independent of their Fisher grade. In this article, the authors review key studies in this area.