Neurophysiological aspects of chronic epidural spinal cord stimulation in patients with spastic and pain syndromes

We analyzed the quality of life of patients with severe motor disorders and pain syndrome resulted from spinal cord dysfunction. These patients underwent neurostimulation of the spinal cord at the lower chest and cervical levels in order to reduce spasticity and pain. The study included 28 patients aged between 22 and 75 years with spinal cord dysfunction associated with spastic and pain syndromes. Of them, 19 participants (67.85%) were male and 9 participants (32.15%) were females. Fourteen patients had lesions in their chest spine; 10 patients had their cervical spine injured; and 4 patients had traumas of the lumbar spine. We assessed patients’ condition preoperatively and then 1, 6, and 12 months following spinal cord stimulation. Our treatment strategy ensured good results, including reduced pain syndrome, decreased muscle tone, and healed trophic pressure sores in all patients. We identified neurophysiological features of the pathogenesis of spinal cord stimulation. This opens up new prospects in the treatment of such patients.