An Implantable Spinal Cord Stimulation Pain Management System

There are many treatment options available for the management of chronic pain . Some include, but are not limited to, over-the-counter medications, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Physical Therapy, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and nerve blocks. Historically, the mainstay of pain treatment has been pharmacotherapy. However, pharmacotherapy has varying degrees of effectiveness and is often associated with undesirable side effects. Although many patients are successfully treated, for those who fail some of these more conservative therapies the remaining option is limited to spinal cord stimulation (SCS), proven to be an effective therapy to more than half of those failing conservative treatments . Over 50% of those who have failed these more conservative methods of pain management, can now, under the guidance of a clinician utilizing SCS, have their pain levels successfully managed. SCS is a less invasive therapy that is a reversible treatment with greater long-term benefits than more permanent, radical approaches and one that deserves greater consideration in the management of chronic, intractable pain.

This clinical trial was a confirmatory study for the Advanced Bionics totally implantable Spnial Cord Stimulation(SCS) System, the Stimulus System. This system is indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs, including unilateral or bilateral pain associated with the following: Dailed back surgery syndrome, intractable low backpain and leg pain.