Pain Control by Permanant Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Post-herpetic Neuralgia / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most frequent and feared complication of herpes zoster and is a common cause of chronic intractable pain in the elderly population. An 80 year old man who had suffered from intractable post-herpetic neuralgia received a percutaneous permanant spinal cord stimulator (ITREL3 Neurostimulator-Model 7425, Medtronic, USA) implantation. After implantation, he could sleep without interference of frequent acute sharp attacks of pain and showed improved daily life. We may suggest that this procedure could be applied for several kinds of intractable pain of neuropathic origin, including post-herpetic neuralgia, failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, peripheral vascular disease and chronic intractable angina, after careful selection of the patient.