High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back and Leg Pain: Implantation Technique of Percutaneous Leads and Implantable Pulse Generator

Adnan Kasapovic; Yorck Rommelspacher; Martin Gathen; Davide Cucchi; Rahel Bornemann; Robert Pflugmacher; Sebastian G Walter

doi:10.1016/j.eats.2019.05.032

High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back and Leg Pain: Implantation Technique of Percutaneous Leads and Implantable Pulse Generator

Arthrosc Tech. 2019 Sep 19;8(10):e1125-e1129. doi: 10.1016/j.eats.2019.05.032. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Authors

Adnan Kasapovic¹, Yorck Rommelspacher², Martin Gathen¹, Davide Cucchi¹, Rahel Bornemann¹, Robert Pflugmacher¹, Sebastian G Walter¹

Affiliations

¹ Department for Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
² Department for Orthopedic Surgery, Krankenhaus der Augustinerinnen, Cologne, Germany.

Abstract

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an evidence-based, reversible but invasive procedure for the treatment of chronic pain syndromes: for example, in patients with failed-back-surgery syndrome or complex regional pain syndrome. A more recent, similar technique uses high-frequency stimulation for SCS and follows a different mechanism of action that does not result in paresthesia. This Technical Note and video present surgical instructions of a "2-way cut-down" technique for a high-frequency SCS trial period and permanent implantation of an implantable pulse generator.