Epidural spinal cord stimulation for the control of spasticity in spinal cord injury patients lacks long-term efficacy and is not cost-effective

Abstract

Epidural spinal cord stimulation has been used to decrease spasticity and spasms in spinal cord injury patients. However, the long-term benefits of this procedure have not been determined. We therefore conducted a retrospective study of the possible long-term efficacy of the epidural spinal cord stimulator for the relief of symptoms. Seventeen patients were identified who had undergone implantation of an epidural spinal stimulator. The total number of implantations in these seventeen patients was 24, (seven patients had undergone a second implantation) costing a total of $566,400. In only one of the patients was the epidural stimulator providing symptomatic relief. The epidural spinal cord stimulator lacks long-term efficacy for the relief of spasticity and pain and is not cost effective.