Spinal cord electric stimulation. Treatment of serious chronic ischemic syndromes of the limbs

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study is to estimate the effectiveness of epidural electric stimulation of spinal cord for the treatment of patients with severe peripheral chronic arteriopathy who can't be surgically treated or when surgical therapy failed. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 18 patients with peripheral chronic arteriopathy at clinical stage I of Fontaine classification; average age was of 60.08 years an they had rest pain and dystrophic lesions. Five patients couldn't be surgically treated. Stimulator catheter was placed in the epidural space and its action was evaluated studying lesion demarcation and pain resolution. RESULTS: In 16 cases there was a good pain control and in 14 patients lesion demarcation, while in 4 cases there was cases no improvement and amputation was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural electric stimulation of spinal cord is a valid treatment in selected patients for ischemia pain control and limb savage.