Shunting of Syringomyelic Cavities by Using a Myringotomy Tube: Technical Note and Long-Term Results.

Background: Syringomyelia is a progressive cerebrospinal fluid disorder that can lead to irreversible spinal cord injury. To date, the optimal management of syringomyelic cavities remains controversial. Multiple studies have emphasized the importance of the craniocervical decompression or shunting procedures; however, except for syrinx related to Chiari malformation, nearly one-half of patients need to undergo reoperation.

The effects of spinal cord stimulation in neuropathic pain are sustained: a 24-month follow-up of the prospective randomized controlled multicenter trial of the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation.

Objective: After randomizing 100 failed back surgery syndrome patients to receive spinal cord stimulation (SCS) plus conventional medical management (CMM) or CMM alone, the results of the 6-month Prospective Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial of the Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation (i.e., PROCESS) showed that SCS offered superior pain relief, health-related quality of life, and functional capacity.

Quality of life, resource consumption and costs of spinal cord stimulation versus conventional medical management in neuropathic pain patients with failed back surgery syndrome (PROCESS trial).

Background: Chronic back and leg pain conditions result in patients' loss of function, reduced quality of life and increased costs to the society.

Aims: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cost implications of spinal cord stimulation plus non-surgical conventional medical management (SCS group) versus non-surgical conventional medical management alone (CMM group) in the management of neuropathic pain in patients with failed back surgery syndrome.

Methods: A total of 100 patients were randomised to either the SCS or CMM group.

Therapeutic vaccination against malignant gliomas based on allorecognition and syngeneic tumor antigens: proof of principle in two strains of rat.

In the present study we investigated whether allogeneic glioma cells can be utilized to evoke prophylactic or therapeutic immune-mediated elimination of syngeneic glioma in two rat strains. Fisher 344 and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected with two syngeneic glioma cell lines, 9L and C6, respectively, resulting in progressive tumor growth. 9L is syngeneic to the Fisher 344 and allogeneic to the SD rats, while C6 cells are syngeneic to SD rats and allogeneic to Fisher 344 rats.

Spinal cord stimulation versus conventional medical management for neuropathic pain: a multicentre randomised controlled trial in patients with failed back surgery syndrome.

Patients with neuropathic pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) typically experience persistent pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. We hypothesised that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective therapy in addition to conventional medical management (CMM) in this patient population. We randomised 100 FBSS patients with predominant leg pain of neuropathic radicular origin to receive spinal cord stimulation plus conventional medical management (SCS group) or conventional medical management alone (CMM group) for at least 6 months.

An unusual sign of catheter migration: sciatica.

Implantation of an intrathecal infusion pump is now accepted as a valuable technique to treat chronic pain. The most frequently reported complications associated with it are catheter fractures or migrations, usually resulting in a recurrence of pain and the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Recently, the neurologic complication of development of a catheter-tip mass has been observed.

Spinal Cord Stimulation vs. Conventional Medical Management: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Study of Patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (PROCESS Study).

Introduction.  Since its first application in 1967, numerous case series indicate that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for the management of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). However, only one randomized controlled trial has demonstrated that SCS provides more effective pain relief than re-operation and conventional medical management.