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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Chronic Pain, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Electrodes, Implanted, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Postoperative Complications, Retrospective Studies, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult.
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Is spinal cord stimulation safe? Context: The aim of this review was to evaluate the complications of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic pain. This was a retrospective case series of 212 patients treated with SCS for chronic lower-limb neuropathic pain between March 2002 and February 2015 in a Reims academic hospital. All patients received a surgically implanted paddle-type electrode. Complications with this technique are here described and analyzed, and other treatment and preventative methods proposed. The major indication was 'failed back surgery syndrome', and 74 (35%) patients experienced complications, of which 57% were benign, while 42% required invasive treatment. Most frequent complications (n=22, 10%) were hardware malfunctions. There were two cases (0.9%) of postoperative neurological deficit and nine (4.2%) with postoperative infections. All patients received the appropriate treatment for their complication.
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Despite the presence of complications, SCS is still a safe technique, although careful patient selection and proper surgical technique can help to avoid major complications.