High-frequency – Spinal Cord Stimulation

R. Rapcan, J. Mlaka, M. Venglarcik, V. Vinklerova, M. Gajdos, R. Illes
2015 Bratislava Medical Journal  
AIM: Our clinical experience with high -frequency SCS for FBSS in patients with predominant low back pain is presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After a trial period, 100 % (21 out of 21) of patients with FBSS with predominant low back pain reported a signifi cant improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and underwent permanent implantation of the high -frequency SCS system. SCS trials lasted 7-14 days (median 9 days). SCS leads were mostly positioned at the T8-10 or T8-12 vertebral
more » ... ls . We used both single and dual lead placement. VAS, patient satisfaction, patient performance status, opioid consumption and complication rate were assessed for the period of 12 months. RESULTS: The mean VAS score before implantation (8.7) compared to VAS 12 months after implantation (4.0) was signifi cantly lower (CI95[3.9-5.4], p < 0.001). There was a signifi cant improvement in performance status when comparing PS before implantation (3.0) and 12 months after implantation (1.8) (CI95[0.9-1.6], p < 0.001). The mean patient satisfaction scores (PSS) did not differ throughout the whole one year follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Our group of 21 patients with implanted high -frequency SCS systems reported signifi cant low back pain and leg pain relief within the period of 12 months as well as signifi cant improvement in their performance status. We had a special subgroup of 5 patients with regular change of frequencies between high frequency and conventional frequency (with paresthesia) also with signifi cant leg and low back pain relief (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 8) . Text in PDF www.elis.sk. KEY WORDS: predominant back pain, failed back surgery syndrome, high -frequency stimulation, spinal cord stimulation.
doi:10.4149/bll_2015_067 fatcat:oxavuuqtkve3zb4t6xbnelvkse