Percutaneous implantation of a brachial plexus electrode for management of pain syndrome caused by a traction injury.

Introduction.  Intractable pain in the affected arm is a common sequel to severe traction lesions of the brachial plexus. Its management presents a challenge.

Subcutaneous neuromodulating implant targeted at the site of pain.

Introduction: Primary afferent stimulation for the control of chronic pain frequently offers the optimal compromise for the control of intractable pain. We describe a new access route directly to the site of pain (target) in the form of subcutaneous targeted neurostimulation (STN) via a percutaneous permanent neurostimulating implant.

Case Report: We present 3 cases with chronic intractable pain where STN via a permanent neurostimulating implant was introduced successfully.

Pulsed radiofrequency applied to dorsal root ganglia causes a selective increase in ATF3 in small neurons.

Background: This is a "proof of concept study" to test the hypothesis that pulsed radiofrequency, PRF, produces cell stress at the primary afferent level without signs of overt thermal damage. We assumed that cell stress would result in impairment of normal function, and used the expression of activating transcription factor 3, ATF3, as an indicator of cellular "stress".

Methods: PRF (20 ms of 500-kHz RF pulses, delivered at a rate of 2 Hz; maximum temperature 42 degrees C) was delivered either to the sciatic nerve of adult rats in mid thigh, or to the L4 anterior primary ramus just distal to the intervertebral foramen.

Diagnosis of spinal disease with ultrafine flexible fiberscopes in patients with chronic pain.

Study Design: Spinal epidural and subarachnoid spaces were observed with the newly developed fine flexible fiberscopes in 55 patients with chronic pain.

Objectives: To evaluate the fiberscopes as diagnostic tools for spinal canal disease.

Summary Of Background Data: Fine flexible fiberscopes make it possible to visualize the entire length of the spinal subarachnoid space without major complications, and they may be of value for the diagnosis of certain spinal canal diseases.