Spinal Cord Stimulation for Control of Chronic Pain

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has undergone a variety of technical modifications and advances and has been applied to a variety of pain conditions. The group of patients in which SCS has been most commonly applied is those with chronic back and leg pain, failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), complex regional pain syndrome or other ischemic pain syndromes. Goal of its treatment is palliative treatment and suppression of severity of pain intensity and frequency, although the mechanism of action of SCS has not been well known. The author reviews indications, surgical techniques, mechanism of action of SCS and management of the patient.