Technical Factors Important to Dorsal Column Stimulation

A series of 101 patients with weakened neurological conditions (including multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases) were augmented with dorsal column stimulation (DCS) over a 5 1/2-year period. 65 patients were implanted with an RF-linked system while 36 had a fully implantable programmable stimulator inserted. 20% failure occurred in the radio receiver series while none occurred in the latter, except for routine battery depletion. After 5 years, 23% of the patients using the RF system continued to use DCS, while after 4 years of using the fully implantable units, 81% of the patients continued to use DCS. Electrode displacement occurred in 27 patients, with breakage in a further 6 patients early in the series. Cathodal stimulation is more efficient that anodal stimulation when compared in 21 patients undergoing DCS.