Spinal Cord Stimulation for Pain Treatment After Spinal Cord Injury

Overview

Journal Neurosci Bull

Specialty Neurology

Date 2018 Dec 19

PMID 30560438

Citations 24

Authors

Qian Huang

Wanru Duan

Eellan Sivanesan

Shuguang Liu

Fei Yang

Zhiyong Chen

Neil C Ford

Xueming Chen

Yun Guan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In addition to restoration of bladder, bowel, and motor functions, alleviating the accompanying debilitating pain is equally important for improving the quality of life of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Currently, however, the treatment of chronic pain after SCI remains a largely unmet need. Electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used to manage a variety of chronic pain conditions that are refractory to pharmacotherapy. Yet, its efficacy, benefit profiles, and mechanisms of action in SCI pain remain elusive, due to limited research, methodological weaknesses in previous clinical studies, and a lack of mechanistic exploration of SCS for SCI pain control. We aim to review recent studies and outline the therapeutic potential of different SCS paradigms for traumatic SCI pain. We begin with an overview of its manifestations, classification, potential underlying etiology, and current challenges for its treatment. The clinical evidence for using SCS in SCI pain is then reviewed. Finally, future perspectives of pre-clinical research and clinical study of SCS for SCI pain treatment are discussed.

Citing Articles

Rehabilitation Perspectives in Spinal Cord Ischemia After Major Vascular Surgery: A Case Series.

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The Role of Maladaptive Plasticity in Modulating Pain Pressure Threshold Post-Spinal Cord Injury.

Imamura M, Filardi R, Lacerda G, Pacheco-Barrios K, Shinzato G, Battistella L Healthcare (Basel). 2025; 13(3).

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Response of dorsal horn neurons in mice to high-frequency (kHz) biphasic stimulation is not sensitive to local temperature rise.

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Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spinal Cord Injury-Related Pain: A Pilot Study.

Alamri A, MacDonald M, Al-Mohammad A, Ricciardi L, Hart M, Pereira E Brain Sci. 2025; 14(12.

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Comparative outcomes of microsurgical dorsal root entry zone lesioning (DREZotomy) for intractable neuropathic pain in spinal cord and cauda equina injuries.

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