title: Improvement of muscle strenght independently of analgesic effect following spinal cord stimulation. A case report.
abstract: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is frequently used for relief of chronic benign pain resistant to conservative therapies. Clinical practice suggests, at least in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), the possibility that SCS significantly improves motor performances. We present here the case of a 41-years-old female patient with FBSS, who showed a clear improvement in muscle strength after SCS, persisting at 6-months follow-up. We speculate that the electrical stimulation of posterior columns could potentiate the caudal, segmental spinal reflexes resulting in a facilitation of motoneurons activation.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Clinical Neurophysiology, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. mbuonocore@fsm.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buonocore
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demartini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonezzi