Precentral cortex stimulation for the treatment of central neuropathic pain: results of a prospective study in a 20-patient series.

The authors report a series of 23 patients with central neuropathic pain who were treated with the recently developed technique of precentral cortex stimulation (PCS). Of the 20 patients with a follow-up of more than 1 year (mean of 23 months) 25% had an excellent, 35% a good and 15% a fair relief of pain. In 25% the method failed. On the basis of these findings and the literature data (127 reported cases), the authors advocate PCS in patients with severe and medically refractory poststroke pain. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel