The Influence of Etiology and Stimulation Target on the Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat chronic neuropathic pain has shown variable outcomes. Variations in pain etiologies and DBS targets are considered the main contributing factors, which are, however, underexplored owing to a paucity of patient data in individual studies. An updated meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the influence of these factors on the outcome of DBS for chronic neuropathic pain is warranted, especially considering that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has emerged recently as a new DBS target. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane data bases to identify studies reporting quantitative outcomes of DBS for chronic neuropathic pain. Pain and quality of life (QoL) outcomes, grouped by etiology and DBS target, were extracted and analyzed (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included for analysis. Patients with peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) had a significantly greater initial stimulation success rate than did patients with central neuropathic pain (CNP). Both patients with CNP and patients with PNP with definitive implant, regardless of targets, gained significant follow-up pain reduction. Patients with PNP had greater long-term pain relief than did patients with CNP. Patients with CNP with ACC DBS gained less long-term pain relief than did those with conventional targets. Significant short-term QoL improvement was reported in selected patients with CNP after ACC DBS. However, selective reporting bias was expected, and the improvement decreased in the long term. CONCLUSIONS: Although DBS to treat chronic neuropathic pain is generally effective, patients with PNP are the preferred population over patients with CNP. Current data suggest that ACC DBS deserves further investigation as a potential way to treat the affective component of chronic neuropathic pain.

Ultrafine Flexible Endoscope Visualization to Assist in the Removal of a Huge Spinal Extradural Arachnoid Cyst: Case Report and Literature Review.

Arachnoid cysts are one of the benign spinal cystic lesions. Multiple nerve roots and spinal cord may be compressed by it, and operating is often recommended. Traditional surgical procedures often choose the posterior median approach, separating the paravertebral muscles, milling the lamina, fully exposing the cyst, partially or completely removing the cyst wall, looking for the leak, and then suturing and sealing. Here we present a case of giant spinal extradural arachnoid cyst in which a ultrafine flexible endoscope was used to visualize cystic spaces and identity the leaks. We repaired the leak after removing part of the cyst wall under the operating microscope, and the patient had an excellent recovery.

Spinal Angiolipomas : Clinical Characteristics, Surgical Strategies and Prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: Angiolipomas are usually found in the subcutaneous tissue of the trunk and limbs. Spinal angiolipomas (SALs) are uncommon and have rarely been reported. We report a series of nine SALs patients who received surgical treatment in our department. To summarize the clinical characteristics of SALs, propose our surgical strategies, and evaluate the effects of the operation. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of nine SALs patients who received surgical treatment from August 2015 to March 2020. Total or subtotal resection was determined by the axial localization (dorsal or ventral) and the extent of intervertebral foramen involvement. The outcomes were assessed based on the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scoring system utilized before surgery and at various follow-up points. RESULTS: Among the nine patients, the mean mJOA score before surgery was 6.6±2.3, compared with 10.1±1.1 at the last follow-up time point (33.4±11.8 months). All patients achieved good outcomes, even in cases of subtotal resection. CONCLUSION: Early surgical resection of SALs is recommended, and the specific procedures should be determined by the axial localization (dorsal or ventral) and the extent of intervertebral foramen involvement. Most of the patients had a good prognosis, even in cases of subtotal resection.

Intraspinal clear cell meningioma without dural attachment: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Clear cell meningioma (CCM) is one of the rarest but most aggressive forms of meningioma, with a tendency to occur at a high recurrence rate. Intraspinal CCM, especially the nondura-based type, is even rarer than the intracranial CCM. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with a 1-month history of episodic pain in the lower back and in both thighs in the front side. Femoral nerve stretch tests were positive on both sides. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an intradural tumor at the L3 level, which was isointense on T1- and T2-weighted images (WI) and homogeneously enhanced on gadolinium-contrast T1 WI. DIAGNOSES: The space-occupying lesion was pathologically confirmed as CCM. INTERVENTIONS: During surgery, we found that the tumor adhered to a nerve root, without dural attachment. The nerve root was partially removed to achieve complete resection. OUTCOMES: The pain disappeared after the operation. The 1 year follow-up MRI revealed no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis. LESSONS: Nondura-based intraspinal CCM is easier to completely remove, and such complete removal should be achieved during the first operation. Although the recurrence rate of this particular type of meningioma appears to be lower than that of other types, close clinical and radiological follow-up is necessary.

The Use of Remote Programming for Spinal Cord Stimulation for Patients With Chronic Pain During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China.

OBJECTIVES: Due to the impact of COVID-19 epidemic, face-to-face follow-up treatments for patients with chronic pain and implanted spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices are forced to be delayed or stopped. This has led to more follow ups being done remotely. Meanwhile, with the development of 4G/5G networks, smartphones, and novel devices, remote programming has become possible. Here, we investigated the demand and utility of remote follow-ups including remote programming for SCS for patients with chronic pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire including questions on demographic characteristics, pain history, postimplantation life quality, standard follow-up experience, remote follow-up, and remote programming experience was sent to patients diagnosed as chronic intractable pain and treated with SCS during January 2019 to January 2020. RESULTS: A total of 64 participants completed the questionnaire. About 70% of participants expressed demands for remote follow-ups due to the inconvenience, high costs, and time consumption of traditional follow-up visits. Nearly 97% of participants have attempted remote follow-ups, and about 81% of participants have further tried remote programming. Approximately, 96% of them recognized the benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The remote programming was in high demand among participants. Most of the participants have tried remote follow-ups or even remote programming. The remote programming appeared to be more efficient, economic and were widely recognized among participants.

Management of Intractable Pain in Patients With Implanted Spinal Cord Stimulation Devices During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using a Remote and Wireless Programming System.

As COVID-19 rampages throughout the world and has a major impact on the healthcare system, non-emergency medical procedures have nearly come to a halt due to appropriate resource reallocation. However, pain never stops, particularly for patients with chronic intractable pain and implanted spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices. The isolation required to fight this pandemic makes it impossible for such patients to adjust the parameters or configuration of the device on site. Although telemedicine has shown a great effect in many healthcare scenarios, there have been fewer applications of such technology focusing on the interaction with implanted devices. Here, we introduce the first remote and wireless programming system that enables healthcare providers to perform video-based real-time programming and palliative medicine for pain patients with a SCS implant. During the COVID-19 pandemic from January 23, 2020, the date of lockdown of Wuhan, to April 30, 2020, 34 sessions of remote programming were conducted with 16 patients. Thirteen of the 16 patients required programming for parameter optimization. Improvement was achieved with programming adjustment in 12 of 13 (92.3%) cases. Eleven of the 16 (68.8%) patients reported that the system was user-friendly and met their needs. Five patients complained of an unstable connection resulting from the low network speed initially, and three of these patients solved this problem. In summary, we demonstrated that a remote wireless programming system can deliver safe and effective programming operations of implantable SCS device, thereby providing palliative care of value to the most vulnerable chronic pain patients during a pandemic. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT03858790.

Spinal cord stimulation for chronic intractable trunk or limb pain: study protocol for a Chinese multicenter randomized withdrawal trial (CITRIP study).

BACKGROUND: Although effective results of many studies support the use of spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain patients, no randomized controlled trial has been undertaken in China to date. CITRIP is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, withdrawal study designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of spinal cord stimulation plus remote programming management in patients with intractable trunk or limb pain. METHOD: Participants will be recruited in approximately 10 centers across China. Eligible participants with intractable trunk or limb and an average visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥ 5 will undergo a spinal cord stimulation test. Participants with VAS score reduction ≥ 50% could move forward to receive implantation of an implanted pulse generator. In the withdrawal period at 3-month follow-up visit, participants randomized to the experimental group (EG) will undergo continuous stimulation while ceasing the stimulation in the control group (CG). The outcome assessment will occur at baseline and at 1, 3 (pre- and post-randomization), and 6 months. The primary outcome is the difference of maximal VAS score between EG and CG in the withdrawal period compared with baseline before the withdrawal period. Additional outcomes include VAS score change at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups; responder rate (VAS score improving by 50%); achievement rate of a desirable pain state (VAS score ≤ 4); awake times during sleep; Beck Depression Inventory for depression evaluation; short-form 36 for quality of life evaluation; drug usage; and satisfaction rating of the device. Adverse events will be collected. The primary analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. DISCUSSION: The CITRIP study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a randomized withdrawal trial of spinal cord stimulation for patients with intractable trunk or limb pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03858790 . Registered on March 1, 2019, retrospectively registered.

Sudden Aggravated Radicular Pain Caused by Hemorrhagic Spinal Angiolipomas After Back Massage.

BACKGROUND: Spinal angiolipomas (SALs) are benign tumors that usually present a slow progressive spinal cord or radicular compression. Acute myelopathy or acute aggravated radicular syndrome are exceedingly rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors report an original case with sudden aggravated radicular pain caused by hemorrhagic SALs. A 54-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of mild back pain, and the pain was significantly aggravated after a therapeutic back massage. Neurologic examination showed pain and hyperalgesia between T4 and T7 dermatome, from back to front, just like a band. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a dorsally located epidural lesion (T4-T6) and a small intratumoral hemorrhage at the lower part of the tumor. A bilateral T4-T6 laminectomy was performed to achieve total excision of the tumors. Histologic examination showed that the tumors were composed of mature adipose tissue and vascular tissue as angiolipomas. The postoperative course was uneventful with complete neurologic recovery 4 days after the surgery. MRI at 1-year follow-up indicated no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: SALs are unusual benign tumors that are composed of mature fatty tissue and abnormal blood vessels; sudden aggravated spinal cord or radicular compression syndrome is rare. MRI is the best choice in the diagnosis of SALs. Surgery may be performed in different ways depending on the type of SALs, and the prognosis is generally good.