Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation for pain relief in reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
35 patients with the diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy in a late stage have been treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). 6 out of the 35 were also submitted to spinal cord stimulation (SCS). The follow-up was from 10 to 36 months. The results obtained were TENS group: 25% excellent, 45% good, 10% fair, 20% poor; in the SCS group: 16.6% excellent; 66.6% good and 16.6% fair. In the long run these results are better than those obtained with sympathetic blocks and sympathectomy. TENS and SCS have no effect on osteoporosis or ankylosis.
Robaina
F J
FJ
Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Ntra. Sra. de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Rodriguez
J L
JL
de Vera
J A
JA
Martin
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation