Wound Infection of Spinal Cord Stimulator: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Nowadays spinal cord stimulator is frequently used for the patients diagnosed as complex regional pain syndrome. The lead is placed above the spinal cord and connected to the stimulation generator, which is mostly placed in the subcutaneous layer of the abdomen. When the complication occurs in the generator inserted site, such as infection or generator exposure, replacement of the new generator to another site or pocket of the abdomen would be the classical choice. The objective of our study is to present our experience of the effective replacement of the existing stimulation generator from subcutaneous layer to another layer in same site after the wound infection at inexpensive cost and avoidance of new scar formation. METHODS: A 50-year-old man who was diagnosed as complex regional pain syndrome after traffic accident received spinal cord stimulator, Synergy(R) (Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA) insertion 1 month ago by anesthetist. The patient was referred to our department for wound infection management. The patient was presented with erythema, swelling, thick discharge and wound disruption in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. After surgical debridement of the capsule, the existing generator replacement beneath the anterior layer of rectus sheath was performed after sterilization by alcohol. RESULTS: Patient's postoperative course was uneventful without any complication and had no evidence of infection for 3 months follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Replacement of existing spinal cord stimulation generator after sterilization between the anterior layer of rectus sheath and rectus abdominis muscle in the abdomen will be an alternative treatment in wound infection of stimulator generator.