Long‐Term Outcome of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain Management

Study Design. This is a retrospective study on 102 patients subjected to implantation of a spinal cord stimulation system for nonmalignant chronic pain management. The study was conducted through an extensive questionnaire and telephone interviews by a neutral third party. All the patients were implanted with a complete spinal cord stimulation system without a preliminary trial with a temporarily implanted electrode. Diagnostic categories were neuropathic pain, failed back syndrome, spinal cord Injury pain, and miscellaneous. Average follow‐up was 3.8 years (6 months to 8 years). Patients were divided in two groups: all the implanted patients in the survey (Group A) and the implanted patients who experienced some degree of pain relief with the stimulation (Group B). Group B (80 patients) closely matches previously published series where an initial temporary screening was performed.

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