The efficacy of spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain

A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in the management of chronic pain syndrome. The study inc luded all patients who underwent this procedure at the Royal Melbourne Hosp ital and the Melbourne Private Hospital over a period of two years. A total of 29 patients were managed by the end of June 1996. These patients were c arefully screened by a neurosurgeon (JVR) and a psychiatrist. Of these, 26 patients had a follow up evaluation at the end of August 1996. From the gro up of 29 patients, four patients failed to obtain any relief during the tri al phase of the procedure and thus did not have the stimulator implanted pe rmanently. From the 25 patients who proceeded to have the stimulator implan ted, 11 patients had a variable beneficial response, three patients found i t to be of marginal benefit, six had no benefit, three patients initially h ad a good response but subsequently gained no benefit whilst two patients w ere uncertain of its benefit. It thus appears that SCS was of benefit in 50 % of our carefully selected patients with chronic pain syndromes. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.