Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves for pain control. A 10-year experience.
Patients who underwent implantation of dorsal column stimulators from 1970 to 1973 were reviewed 7-10 years following stimulation. The number who achieved satisfactory pain relief was not significant. The criteria for selecting these patients were reviewed utilizing those now used in 1980. 50% of the patients originally selected would now be rejected for psychological or drug-related reasons. This long-term evaluation indicates no benefit to the patients treated with spinal cord stimulation. However, it appears that psychological factors were the most important reasons for failure. A smaller group of patients studied for 3-5 years following implantation of epidural spinal cord stimulators achieved a 70% pain control rate. Selection factors that explain these differences are discussed.
D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000503:physiopathology; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*