The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Spinal Cauda Equina Stimulation for Alternative Location of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Intractable Phantom Limb Pain Syndrome -A Case Report-

  • Lee, Pil Moo (Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine) ;
  • So, Yun (Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Jung Min (Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Chul Min (Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Hae Kyoung (Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jae Hun (Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2015.12.09
  • Accepted : 2016.01.21
  • Published : 2016.04.01
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Abstract

Phantom limb pain is a phenomenon in which patients experience pain in a part of the body that no longer exists. In several treatment modalities, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been introduced for the management of intractable post-amputation pain. A 46-year-old male patient complained of severe ankle and foot pain, following above-the-knee amputation surgery on the right side amputation surgery three years earlier. Despite undergoing treatment with multiple modalities for pain management involving numerous oral and intravenous medications, nerve blocks, and pulsed radiofrequency (RF) treatment, the effect duration was temporary and the decreases in the patient's pain score were not acceptable. Even the use of SCS did not provide completely satisfactory pain management. However, the trial lead positioning in the cauda equina was able to stimulate the site of the severe pain, and the patient's pain score was dramatically decreased. We report a case of successful pain management with spinal cauda equina stimulation following the failure of SCS in the treatment of intractable phantom limb pain.

Keywords

References

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