Ido Strauss1, Karim Taha2, Vibhor Krishna1, Mojgan Hodaie3. 1. Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. 2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 3. Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. mojgan.hodaie@uhn.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an accepted surgical treatment for neuropathic pain in failed back syndrome or complex regional pain syndrome. However, even in the best selected surgical cases the predictors of adequate pain control are not well defined. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of outcome in patients who underwent SCS in our center. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of our neurosurgical database for patients who underwent SCS over the last 8 years in an attempt to identify factors predictive of outcome. RESULTS: Forty-one patients underwent implantation of epidural electrodes, 34 patients had a successful stimulation trial and received permanent devices. Nine patients experienced a late failure at a median time of 7.8 months (range, 4.5-19 months) after implantation. Age was significantly associated with outcome. Younger patients had a significantly lower rate of treatment failure, and none of the patients above 65 years had a successful long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that younger age is associated with greater long-term effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation and therefore age may influence the success of SCS therapy with older patients having a greater tendency to failure. Earlier intervention may be beneficial in these chronic pain patients.
BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an accepted surgical treatment for neuropathic pain in failed back syndrome or complex regional pain syndrome. However, even in the best selected surgical cases the predictors of adequate pain control are not well defined. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of outcome in patients who underwent SCS in our center. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of our neurosurgical database for patients who underwent SCS over the last 8 years in an attempt to identify factors predictive of outcome. RESULTS: Forty-one patients underwent implantation of epidural electrodes, 34 patients had a successful stimulation trial and received permanent devices. Nine patients experienced a late failure at a median time of 7.8 months (range, 4.5-19 months) after implantation. Age was significantly associated with outcome. Younger patients had a significantly lower rate of treatment failure, and none of the patients above 65 years had a successful long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that younger age is associated with greater long-term effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation and therefore age may influence the success of SCS therapy with older patients having a greater tendency to failure. Earlier intervention may be beneficial in these chronic painpatients.