Late onset cervical myelopathy secondary to fibrous scar tissue formation around the spinal cord stimulation electrode

Abstract

Case report. To report the late onset of cervical myelopathy secondary to fibrous scar tissue formation around an epidural electrode implanted for spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hoshigaoka Koseinenkin Hospital, Osaka, Japan. A 49-year-old man who had an electrode implanted for SCS 5 years ago was referred to our department on 2 March 2005, complaining of difficulty using chopsticks and walking. A computed tomography scan with myelography revealed severe spinal cord compression around the epidural electrode. Surgical removal of the electrode was not effective. Removal of fibrous scar tissue during a second surgery significantly improved his neurological symptoms. Late onset cervical myelopathy secondary to fibrous scar tissue formation around the epidural electrode should be considered a possible event associated with SCS therapy.