Dorsal spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. 1979

R F Young, and S J Goodman

Previously published work indicated significant improvement in the symptoms of multiple sclerosis with dorsal spinal cord stimulation. In this study 23 patients with multiple sclerosis documented by history, examination, laboratory studies, and clinical course were treated with dorsal spinal cord stimulation and followed for 19 to 45 months (mean, 32 months). Pre- and postoperative clinical assessment was carried out using the Kurtzke Scale. Walking velocity, upper limb coordination, sphincter function, and sensory function were also evaluated quantitatively. No statistically significant objective improvement in any of these measures was demonstrated. Fifty per cent of the patients initially reported subjective symptomatic improvement, but this declined to 30% at last follow-up. Fifteen of 23 patients experienced complications related mainly to the hardware used and required a total of 21 subsequent operative procedures for correction of these complications. These results do not support the continued clinical use of dorsal spinal cord stimulation in the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007422 Intestines The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE. Intestine
D008297 Male Males
D009103 Multiple Sclerosis An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903) MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011712 Pyramidal Tracts Fibers that arise from cells within the cerebral cortex, pass through the medullary pyramid, and descend in the spinal cord. Many authorities say the pyramidal tracts include both the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts. Corticobulbar Tracts,Corticospinal Tracts,Decussation, Pyramidal,Corticobulbar Tract,Corticospinal Tract,Pyramidal Decussation,Pyramidal Tract,Tract, Corticobulbar,Tract, Corticospinal,Tract, Pyramidal,Tracts, Corticobulbar,Tracts, Corticospinal,Tracts, Pyramidal
D012023 Reflex, Monosynaptic A reflex in which the AFFERENT NEURONS synapse directly on the EFFERENT NEURONS, without any INTERCALATED NEURONS. (Lockard, Desk Reference for Neuroscience, 2nd ed.) Monosynaptic Reflex
D001743 Urinary Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the URINARY TRACT. URINE flows from the KIDNEYS into the bladder via the ureters (URETER), and is held there until URINATION. Bladder,Bladder Detrusor Muscle,Detrusor Urinae,Bladder Detrusor Muscles,Bladder, Urinary,Detrusor Muscle, Bladder,Detrusor Muscles, Bladder
D004599 Electric Stimulation Therapy Application of electric current in treatment without the generation of perceptible heat. It includes electric stimulation of nerves or muscles, passage of current into the body, or use of interrupted current of low intensity to raise the detection threshold of the skin to pain. Electrotherapy,Electrical Stimulation Therapy,Interferential Current Electrotherapy,Therapeutic Electric Stimulation,Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation,Therapy, Electric Stimulation,Electric Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrical Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrotherapy, Interferential Current,Stimulation Therapy, Electric,Stimulation Therapy, Electrical,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electric,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electrical,Therapy, Electrical Stimulation
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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