title: Precentral cortex stimulation for the treatment of central neuropathic pain: results of a prospective study in a 20-patient series.
abstract: The authors report a series of 23 patients with central neuropathic pain who were treated with the recently developed technique of precentral cortex stimulation (PCS). Of the 20 patients with a follow-up of more than 1 year (mean of 23 months) 25% had an excellent, 35% a good and 15% a fair relief of pain. In 25% the method failed. On the basis of these findings and the literature data (127 reported cases), the authors advocate PCS in patients with severe and medically refractory poststroke pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Lyon I, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sindou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guenot
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peyron
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garcia-Larrea
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laurent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome