SPINAL-CORD STIMULATION IN CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used for more than 30 years now , and although it has shown to be effective under certain well-describ ed conditions of chronic pain, conclusive evidence on its effectivenes s is still sparse. There is a need for more prospective and methodolog ical good studies, in order to prove SCS efficacy for new or still que stionable indications and to reveal prognostic factors for successful application. Especially at this moment, when governments are trying to control and reduce their health care expenses, studies on the cost-ef fectiveness of SCS are important. In contrast to the early years when SCS was applied by independent physicians exploring the field of neuro stimulation, the importance of information exchange and coordination o f studies has now been recognized. Recent technical improvements of SC S devices may positively influence clinical outcome.