title: Is spinal cord stimulation safe? A review of 13 years of implantations and complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to evaluate the complications of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective case series of 212 patients treated with SCS for chronic lower-limb neuropathic pain between March 2002 and February 2015 in a Reims academic hospital. All patients received a surgically implanted paddle-type electrode. Complications with this technique are here described and analyzed, and other treatment and preventative methods proposed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major indication was 'failed back surgery syndrome', and 74 (35%) patients experienced complications, of which 57% were benign, while 42% required invasive treatment. Most frequent complications (n=22, 10%) were hardware malfunctions. There were two cases (0.9%) of postoperative neurological deficit and nine (4.2%) with postoperative infections. All patients received the appropriate treatment for their complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the presence of complications, SCS is still a safe technique, although careful patient selection and proper surgical technique can help to avoid major complications.
authors: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France. Electronic address: jean-charles.kleiber@neurochirurgie.fr.
authors: J-C
authors: JC
authors: Kleiber
authors: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Marlier
authors: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bannwarth
authors: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Theret
authors: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Peruzzi
authors: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Litre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062187:Spinal Cord Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic pain; Complications; Spinal cord stimulation