Failure of chronic dorsal column stimulation in multiple sclerosis.

In view of the favorable claims of Cook and others, an open trial of chronic dorsal column stimulation was undertaken in 9 patients who had moderately advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) but were still ambulatory. No objective improvement was noted by either author during the postoperative observation period of 6 to 37 months; the occasional subjective improvement was ascribed to placebo effect. This procedure can no longer be recommended for MS patients.