Practice Parameters for the Use of Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic Pain

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Is SCS indicated for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) I (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and CRPS II (causalgia)?

Yes.

Strength of recommendation Evidence sources/rationale
A = Recommended or required
Valid, useful, or non-negotiable
  • Well-designed RCT(s)
  • Well-designed clinical studies
  • Weighing risk versus potential benefit and expert consensus reveals a high likelihood of a favorable outcome

CRPS randomized controlled trials

Kemler MA, De Vet HC, Barendse GA, Van Den Wildenberg FA, Van Kleef M. The effect of spinal cord stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome Type I: Five-year follow-up of patients in a randomized controlled trial. J Neurosurg 108(2)292-298, 2008.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kemler MA, De Vet HC, Barendse GA, Van Den Wildenberg FA, Van Kleef M. The effect of spinal cord stimulation in patients with chronic reflex sympathetic dystrophy: Two years' follow-up of the randomized controlled trial. Ann Neurol 55(1)13-18, 2004.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kemler MA, Barendse GA, van Kleef M, de Vet HC, Rijks CP, Furnee CA, van den Wildenberg FA. Spinal cord stimulation in patients with chronic reflex sympathetic dystrophy. N Engl J Med 343(9):618-624, 2000.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Harke H, Gretenkort P, Ladleif HU, Rahman S, Harke O. The response of neuropathic pain and pain in complex regional pain syndrome I to carbamazepine and sustained-release morphine in patients pretreated with spinal cord stimulation: a double-blinded randomized study. Anesth Analg 92(2):488-495, 2001.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

CRPS long-term FU studies

Robaina FJ, Rodriguez JL, de Vera JA. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation for pain relief in reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 52:53–62, 1989.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kumar K, Nath RK, Toth C. Spinal cord stimulation is effective in the management of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Neurosurgery 40(3):503-508, 1997.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kim SH, Tasker RR, Oh MY. Spinal cord stimulation for nonspecific limb pain versus neuropathic pain and spontaneous versus evoked pain. Neurosurgery 48(5):1056-1064, 2001.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kemler MA, Barendse GA, Van Kleef M. Relapsing ulcerative colitis associated with spinal cord stimulation. Gastroenterology 117(1):215-217, 1999.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Harke H, Gretenkort P, Ladleif HU, Rahman S. Spinal cord stimulation in sympathetically maintained complex regional pain syndrome type I with severe disability. A prospective clinical study. Eur J Pain 9(4):363-373, 2005.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Calvillo O, Racz G, Didie J, Smith K. Neuroaugmentation in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome of the upper extremity. Acta Orthop Belg 64(1):57-63, 1998.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

CRPS short-term FU studies

Spincemaille GH, Barendse G, Rouwet EV, Kurvers HAJM, Adang EMM, van Kleef M, Dingemans W, van den Wildenberg FAJM. Spinal cord stimulation and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Pain Clinic 8:155–160, 1985.
| Wikistim Entry

Oakley JC, Weiner RL. Spinal cord stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome: a prospective study of 19 patients at two centers. Neuromodulation 2(1):47-50, 1999.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Hord ED, Cohen SP, Cosgrove GR, Ahmed SU, Vallejo R, Chang Y, Stojanovic MP. The predictive value of sympathetic block for the success of spinal cord stimulation. Neurosurgery 53(3):626-632, 2003.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Forouzanfar T, Kemler MA, Weber WE, Kessels AG, van Kleef M. Spinal cord stimulation in complex regional pain syndrome: cervical and lumbar devices are comparably effective. Br J Anaesth 92(3):348-353, 2004.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Bennett DS, Aló KM, Oakley J, Feler CA. Spinal cord stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome I (RSD). A retrospective multicenter experience from 1995-1998 of 101 patients. Neuromodulation 2(3):202-210, 1999.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Barolat G, Schwartzman R, Woo R. Epidural spinal cord stimulation in the management of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 53(1):29-39, 1989.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

CRPS case studies

Shah RV, Smith HK, Chung J, Hegazi A, Racz GB. Cervical spinal cord neoplasm in a patient with an implanted cervical spinal cord stimulator: the controversial role of magnetic resonance imaging. Pain Phys 7:273-278, 2004.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Segal R. Spinal cord stimulation, conception, pregnancy, and labor: case study in a complex regional pain syndrome patient. Neuromodulation 2(1):41-45, 1999.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Parisod E, Murray RF, Cousins MJ. Conversion disorder after implant of a spinal cord stimulator in a patient with a complex regional pain syndrome. Anesth Analg 96(1):201-206, 2003.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Ochani TD, Almirante J, Siddiqui A, Kaplan R. Allergic reaction to spinal cord stimulator. Clin J Pain 16(2):178-180, 2000.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Matsui M, Tomoda A, Otani Y, Miike T, Hirata Y. Spinal cord stimulation for complex regional pain syndrome: report of 2 cases [Japanese]. No To Hattatsu 35(4):331-335, 2003.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Hayek SM. Four-extremity spinal cord stimulation using dual lower-cervical epidural octapolar percutaneous neuroelectrodes [abstract]. Neuromodulation 9(1):16 2006.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Harney D, Magner JJ, O'Keeffe D. Early intervention with spinal cord stimulation in the management of a chronic regional pain syndrome. Ir Med J 98(3):89-90, 2005.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Hanson JL, Goodman EJ. Labor epidural placement in a woman with a cervical spinal cord stimulator. Int J Obstet Anesth 15(3):246-249, 2006.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Burton AW, Fukshansky M, Brown J, Hassenbusch SJ III. Refractory insomnia in a patient with spinal cord stimulator lead migration. Neuromodulation 7(4):242-245, 2004.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Baldeschi GC, Babbolin G. A new and alternative leads positioning for complex regional pain syndrome treatment: paraforaminal stimulation. Neuromodulation 10(1):12-17, 2007.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Ahmed SU. Complex regional pain syndrome type I after myocardial infarction treated with spinal cord stimulation. Reg Anesth Pain Med 28(3):245-247, 2003.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

CRPS in studies with mixed indications

Villavicencio AT, Leveque JC, Rubin L, Bulsara K, Gorecki JP. Laminectomy versus percutaneous electrode placement for spinal cord stimulation. Neurosurgery 46(2):399-405, 2000.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Sundaraj SR, Johnstone C, Noore F, Wynn P, Castro M. Spinal cord stimulation: a seven-year audit. J Clin Neurosci 12(3):264-270, 2005.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Spielberger C. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Pala Alto, CA:Consulting Psychologists Press, 1983.

Spiegelmann R, Friedman WA. Spinal cord stimulation: a contemporary series. Neurosurgery 28(1):65-70, 1991.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Simpson BA, Bassett G, Davies K, Herbert C, Pierri M. Cervical spinal cord stimulation for pain: A report on 41 patients. Neuromodulation 6(1):20-26, 2003.
Abstract

Shimoji K, Hokari T, Kano T, Tomita M, Kimura R, Watanabe S, Endoh H, Fukuda S, Fujiwara N, Aida S. Management of intractable pain with percutaneous epidural spinal cord stimulation: differences in pain-relieving effects among diseases and sites of pain. Anesth Analog 77:110–116, 1993.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Segal R, Stacey BR, Rudy TE, Baser S, Markham J. Spinal cord stimulation revisited. Neurol Res 20(5);391-396, 1998.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Sánchez-Ledesma MJ, García-March G, Diaz-Cascajo P, Gómez-Moreta J, Broseta J. Spinal cord stimulation in deafferentation pain. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 53(1):40-45, 1989.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Rosenow JM, Stanton-Hicks M, Rezai AR, Henderson JM. Failure modes of spinal cord stimulator hardware. Neurosurg Spine 5(3):183-190, 2006.
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Quigley DG, Arnold J, Eldridge PR, Cameron H, McIvor K, Miles JB, Varma TR. Long-term outcome of spinal cord stimulation and hardware complications. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 81(1-4):50-56, 2003.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

North RB, Kidd DH, Zahurak M, James CS, Long DM. Spinal cord stimulation for chronic, intractable pain: experience over two decades. Neurosurgery 32(3):384-394, 1993.
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Mundinger F, Neumüller H. Programmed stimulation for control of chronic pain and motor diseases. Appl Neurophysiol 45:102-111, 1982.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

May MS, Banks C, Thomson SJ. A retrospective, long-term, third-party follow-up of patients considered for spinal cord stimulation. Neuromodulation 5(3):137-144, 2002.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Lang P. The treatment of chronic pain by epidural spinal cord stimulation - a 15 year follow up: present status. Axon 71-73, 1997.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kumar K, Toth C. The role of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain postlaminectomy. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2:85-92, 1998.

Kumar K, Toth C, Nath RK, Laing P. Epidural spinal cord stimulation for treatment of chronic pain--some predictors of success. A 15-year experience. Surg Neurol 50(2):110-120, 1998.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Kumar K, Toth C, Nath RK. Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain in peripheral neuropathy. Surg Neurol 46(4):363-369, 1996.
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Kumar K, Hunter G, Demeria D. Spinal cord stimulation in treatment of chronic benign pain: challenges in treatment planning and present status, a 22-year experience. Neurosurgery 58(3):481-494, 2006.
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Kay AD, McIntyre MD, Macrae WA, Varma TR. Spinal cord stimulation--a long-term evaluation in patients with chronic pain. Br J Neurosurg 15(4):335-341, 2001.
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Frank ED, Menefee LA, Jalali S, Sanschagrin K, Crerand C, Park J, Padula V, Shaikh R, Barolat G. The utility of a 7-day percutaneous spinal cord stimulator trial measured by a pain diary: a long-term retrospective analysis. Neuromodulation 8(3):162-170, 2005.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Eisenberg E, Waisbrod H. Spinal cord stimulator activation by an antitheft device. Case report. J Neurosurg 87(6):961-962, 1997.
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Devulder J, De Colvenaer L, Rolly G, Caemaert J, Calliauw L, Martens F. Spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain therapy. Clin J Pain 6:51-56, 1990.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Broseta J, Roldán P, González-Darder J, Bordes V, Barcia-Salorio JL. Chronic epidural dorsal column stimulation in the treatment of causalgic pain. Appl Neurophysiol 45:190-194, 1982.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Broggi G, Servello D, Dones I, Carbone G. Italian multicentric study on pain treatment with epidural spinal cord stimulation. Stereotac Funct Neurosurg 62(1-4):273-278, 1994.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Aló KM, Redko V, Charnov J. Multiple program spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain: follow-up of multiple program SCS. Neuromodulation 2(4):266-272, 1999.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Aló KM, Redko V, Charnov J. Four year follow-up of dual electrode spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain. Neuromodulation 5(2):79-99, 2002.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry

Abejón D, Reig E, del Pozo C, Contreras R, Insausti J. Dual spinal cord stimulation for complex pain: preliminary study. Neuromodulation 8(2):105-111, 2005.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry