title: Deep brain stimulation for neuropathic pain.
abstract: Objectives.  To determine whether deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for neuropathic pain of varied etiology. Material and Methods.  Thirty-four patients with intractable neuropathic pain were prospectively studied using visual analog scores, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Quality of Life Questionnaires (EUROQOL EQ-5D VAS, and SF-36 v-2). Patients had either deep brain stimulation of either the periventricular gray or ventroposterolateral nucleus of the thalamus, or both. Results.  Seventy-six percent of patients underwent permanent implantation. Overall reduction of pain intensity was 54%. The burning component of pain improved by 77%. Health-related quality of life improved by 38%. Conclusions.  Deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for neuropathic pain. The factors that influence outcome, including etiology and site of stimulation, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Physiology, University of Oxford, UK             Department of Neurosurgery, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah L F
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bittar
authors.forename: Shouyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tipu Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Aziz