Surg Neurol
-
Results of a series of dorsal column stimulation implants in 76 patients are tabulated and correlated to implant location, type of electrodes used and pain causes; complications are also discussed.
-
Sixty-nine patients with chronically incapacitating pain were treated with an implantable stimulator over the posterior columns of the spinal cord. Evaluations at 24, 30 and 34 months showed a progressive decrease in the number of patients considered to have an excellent result. Evaluation of 60 patients with pain of benign origin after implantation of the stimulating device showed only ten patients who could be considered to have an excellent result on the basis of their own report of pain relief. The most common failure of the stimulating devices was failure of stimulation into a painful part.
-
Results are reviewed of dorsal column electrical stimulation for chronic pain in a series of 80 patients. In the light of the experience gained from this series, indications and patient suitability for this form of therapy are discussed. Complications occurring after implantation are tabulated.
-
One of the pre-operative screening tests for dorsal column stimulation involves direct acute precutaneous stimulation of the dorsal column. The test simulates the postoperative therapeutic situation, shows the patient's reactions to electrically induced paresthesias and enables physician and patient to evaluate beforehand the degree of pain relief to be obtained with the implant.
-
A systematic, strict appraisal was made of 100 patients, after preliminary clinical trials suggested that some patients with pain could be helped by peripheral nerve stimulation. Transcutaneous stimulation of different nerve trunks was done with a special electrical stimulation device with various selected electrical parameters. More than half of the patients experienced some relief; in many, this effect was obtained by stimulating nerves distant from the area of referred pain. ⋯ A few patients had response decay, gain or worsening. Results differ to some degree from previous reports. The results seem encouraging for the treatment of certain forms of intractable pain.