gms | German Medical Science

56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V. (DGNC)
3èmes journées françaises de Neurochirurgie (SFNC)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V.
Société Française de Neurochirurgie

07. bis 11.05.2005, Strasbourg

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Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I of the upper limb by spinal cord stimulation: a prospective study

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author P. Dam Hieu - Service de Neurochirurgie, CHU de la Cavale Blanche, Brest
  • B. Quinio - Unité d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, CHU de la Cavale Blanche, Brest
  • C. Grall - Unité d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, CHU de la Cavale Blanche, Brest
  • T. Dailland - Service de Neurochirurgie, CHU de la Cavale Blanche, Brest

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Société Française de Neurochirurgie. 56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), 3èmes journées françaises de Neurochirurgie (SFNC). Strasbourg, 07.-11.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. DocP040

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2005/05dgnc0308.shtml

Published: May 4, 2005

© 2005 Dam Hieu et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Objective

A monocentric prospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) in treating patients having persistent and intractable Complex regional Pain Syndrome (type I) of the upper limb.

Methods

From January 2003 to December 2003, ten patients (7 males, 3 females, mean-age 44) having severe CRPS I involving the upper arm were carefully elected for SCS by a multidisciplinary team. CRPS had been developing for 54 months (24-108 months). Pre and post operative evaluations (1, 6 and 12 months) included assessment of pain (VAS), trophic perturbations, functional disability (Oswestry score) and medication consumption.

Results

All patients except one were significantly improved by SCS. The mean VAS dramatically decreased: preoperatively VAS=7.9, at 6 months VAS=3.7, at 12 months VAS=3.6. The pre operative mean Oswestry Score was 47,5 and 21 at 12 months. Eight patients were able to use their upper limb (especially the hand) again. Trophic modifications due to CRPS improved in seven patients. Medication consumption was significantly reduced. Preoperatively, all patients were receiving medications. One year later, 6 patients have totally interrupted their medical treatment. No adverse effect was observed except in one patient, who suffered from persistent neck pain.

Conclusions

In carefully selected patients, SCS represents a safe and effective treatment of CRPS type I of the upper arm, resulting in pain reduction and functional improvement. This treatment is particularly effective for patients having a long lasting disease.