Transcript Spinal Cord Stimulation

Dana Demers
BME 281
November 16, 2011
• A device that is surgically placed under the skin that sends a
mild electric current to the spinal cord.
• Used to block the feeling of pain by blocking pain signals from
reaching the brain
• Failed Back Surgery Syndrome- When multiple surgeries to
control chronic leg pain fail to cure patient
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome- Disease of the nervous
system which causes patient to feel constant burning pain in
their foot or hand
• Contains four parts:
• 1. Implantable pulse
generator with a battery
• 2. Lead with a number of
electrodes
• 3. Extension wire that
connects generator and
lead
• 4. Hand-held remote that
patient uses to adjust
stimulation
• Small incision is made in the back, with the lead placed in the
epidural space of spinal cord
• Pulse generator placed in abdominal or gluteal region
• Extension cord connects both of them
• Electrodes that are on the lead block the pain signals from
reaching the brain by conducting an electric current to block the
peripheral stimuli that enter through the dorsal horn in the spinal
cord
• Instead, the patient feels either nothing or a tingling sensation in
the area where pain was normally felt
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Results have shown 40-70%
of patients suffering from
chronic pain had good to
excellent long term relief
• Many patients are able to
return to work and can have
a normal, active lifestyle
• Reduces need for pain
medications
• Easy to use
• Many risks with surgical
procedure
• Patient cannot have
stimulator on while driving or
lifting heavy items
• Battery inside pulse
generator needs to be
surgically replaced every 25 years
• It would improve the device if the surgery was less invasive,
since there are many risks such as leaking of spinal fluid, and
the lead wire not being positioned on the spinal cord properly
that could make a patients situation much worse than before.
• However, it has a bright future, since it is already widely used
and has had positive results for many patients