Spinal Cord Stimulation in Management of Intractable Chronic Pain: A 5-Year Experience

Abstract

Background: We investigated the effect of spinal cord stimulation on intractable chronic pain retrospectively and report our 5-year experience.Methods: 49 patients with the medical history of trial spinal cord stimulation have been retrospectively analyzed. They consist of 34 men and 15 women, ranging in age from 22 to 89 years. Causes of intractable chronic pain included postherpetic neuralgia, failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, chronic back and leg pain, cauda equina syndrome, perineal pain, diabetic polyneuropathy, and spinal cord injury.Results: The pain due to failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, chronic low back and leg pain, and spinal cord injury was well controlled by using spinal cord stimulation system. After a trial period of stimulation, 20 patients had permanent stimulators implanted. Most of them reported satisfactory pain relief for maximum 60 months and minimum 9 months. Noticeable complications included electrode displacement and hemorrhage. Conclusions: We may suggest that spinal cord stimulation is an effective and safe therapy for chronic intractable pain.