Spinal cord stimulation for spinal cord and brachial plexus injured patients

Eighteen patients for spinal cord and brachial plexus injured patients were treated by spinal cord stimulation with epidural electrode(Medtronic, Pisces-Quad Model 3487A or Resume ii Model 3587A). The age ranged from 34 to 67 years, averaging 51 years of age. Spinal cord injuries were 15 cases(cervical 4; lower thoracic and upper lumbar 7; cervical myelopathy associated with cerebral palsy 1; spinal infarction 1; spinal tumor 1; multiply operated back 1) and brachial plexus root avulsions were 3 cases. Spinal cord stimulation was performed for mainly intractable pain in 15 cases and for severe spasticity in 3 cases. The electrode placement for spinal cord stimulation was 36 months on the average, ranging from 6 to 69 months after onset of severe pain. The pain grade by visual analogue scale after spinal cord stimulation was rated as good in 2, fair in 11 and poor in 5 cases. The electrode was removed for less severe effect on pain at 66 months follow-up in one case. Spasticity was remarkably relieved after spinal cord stimulation in 3 severe spastic cases. There were no major complications. There are many modalities of treatment for pain problems. Spinal cord stimulation is a method of choice for pain management for intractable and severe pain of a selected group of spinal cord and brachial plexus injured patients.