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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a form of therapy used to treat certain
types of chronic pain. It involves an electrical generator that delivers
pulses to a targeted spinal cord area. This study assessed the effectiveness
of spinal cord stimulation in relieving two kinds of pain, as well as
the complications and adverse effects of this procedure. Two randomized
controlled trials were included in the review: one trial included patients
with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (reflex sympathetic dystrophy)
and the other patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. The follow-up
periods varied from 6 to 12 months. Both studies reported that SCS was
effective. More high quality trials with larger numbers of patients are needed
to confirm whether SCS is an effective treatment for certain types of
chronic pain. Mailis-Gagnon A. Furlan AD. Sandoval JA. Taylor R. “Spinal
cord stimulation for chronic pain.”
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (3):CD003783, 2004.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15266501
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