Epidural electrical stimulation of posterior structures of the human lumbosacral cord: 3. Control Of spasticity.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on severe spasticity of the lower limbs in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) under close scrutiny of the site and parameters of stimulation.

Materials And Methods: Eight SCI patients (four women, four men) were included in the study. Levels of spasticity before and during stimulation were compared according to a clinical rating scale and by surface electrode polyelectromyography (pEMG) during passive flexion and extension of the knee, supplemented by a pendulum test with the stimulating device switched either on or off over an appropriate period.

Epidural electric stimulation of posterior structures of the human lumbar spinal cord: 1. muscle twitches - a functional method to define the site of stimulation.

Objectives: To describe an electrophysiological method for determining the relation between lumbar cord dorsal roots and cathode of epidural electrode for spinal cord stimulation (SCS).

Materials And Methods: Data has been collected from 13 subjects who have been under evaluation of effectiveness of SCS for control of spasticity. Induced muscle twitches from both quadriceps (Q), adductors (A), hamstrings (H), tibial anterior muscles (TA) and triceps surae muscles (TS) were simultaneously recorded with surface-electrode polyelectromyography (pEMG) and analyzed for amplitudes, latency times and recruitment order.