Spinal Cord Stimulation

There are many factors crucial to the success of spinal cord stimulation. One of the most important is careful patient selection.

Who can benefit from Spinal Cord Stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation may benefit patients who meet the following criteria:

  • Chronic, intractable pain for more than 3 months
  • Objective evidence of pathology concordant with pain complaint
  • Lack of adequate relief from more conventional treatments
  • Initial or further surgical intervention not indicated
  • No untreated drug habituation
  • No contraindications to implantation
  • Clearance and completion of psychological evaluation
  • Clear function goals have been established
  • 18 years of age or older

Common Indications for Spinal Cord Stimulation

  • FBSS-associated chronic pain
  • Peripheral Causalgia
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Types I and II

Spinal cord stimulation is perhaps best utilized for the treatment of chronic pain from neuropathic origin vs. nociceptive origin.1-2

References

  1. Meyerson BA, Linderoth B. Neurol Res. 2000;22:285-292.
  2. Gybels J et al. Eur J Pain. 1998;2:203-209.

Spinal Cord Stimulation Trials

A minimally invasive spinal cord stimulation trial may be performed to access the patient's response to the intervention.

The following criteria may be used to assess the patient during the trial:

  • Pain control—To what degree did the trial relieve the patient's pain?
  • Activities—To what degree did the trial improve the patient's ability to participate in typical activities?
  • Sleep—Was the patient able to sleep more comfortably during the trial?
  • Medication—Did the need for pain medications change during the trial?