Quality of life of patients with critical lower limb ischemia after prolonged spinal cord stimulation

Background. Several previous studies have demonstrated that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can reduce the amputation rate in patients with critical lower limb ischemia (CLLI) and improve blood circulation parameters of the lower limbs. However, there is a lack of studies on the long-term effects of SCS on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with CLLI. Aim. The present study aimed to assess QoL changes in patients with CLLI after SCS system implantation in the long run (i.e., 30-60 months). Methods. This study included 38 patients with CLLI (10 females, 28 males; age range: 39-83 years) who underwent surgery in 2012-2016. QoL was analyzed using the SF-36 questionnaire before and 30-60 months after SCS. The mortality and amputation rates and amputation levels of the patients were also analyzed. The SF-36 questionnaire scores were normalized according to the data of the respective sex and age groups in the general Russian population. The obtained scores were analyzed in their dynamics and compared with the scores of the general population. Results. The preoperative scores of three of four physical well-being QoL parameters of the patients significantly reduced compared with the scores of the general population (p function show_eabstract() { $('#eabstract1').hide(); $('#eabstract2').show(); $('#eabstract_expand').hide(); }