Spinal cord stimulation in vibration white finger.
The authors report a case of vibration white finger syndrome in a 51-year old male, pneumatic drill worker. The patient complained of severe pain in the I, II, III and IV right fingers related to acral ischemic lesions. Dried skin with desquamation, tingling, paraesthesia and loss of sensation were present in both hands. Several arterial obstructions on forearm, hand and fingers were evident bilaterally at the angiography. Medical treatment, including administration of calcium-channel blockers, pentoxifylline and intravenous prostaglandin therapy, was unsuccessful. Under local anaesthesia an epidural spinal cord cervical electrode was implanted to control pain and ameliorate local microcirculatory conditions. The clinical result was excellent with the disappearance of symptoms and healing of acral lesions in a few weeks. Epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation represents an excellent technique for treatment in secondary Raynaud phenomenon related to vibration white finger syndrome.
Sciacca
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V
Department of General Surgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Petrakis
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I
Borzomati
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V
D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*