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Spinal cord stimulation for spasticity

  • Chapter
Neurosurgery for Spasticity

Abstract

After the dramatic improvement of multiple sclerosis patients reported by Cook and Weinstein (1973), spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the relief of spasticity and motor dyskinesias has been applied to a large number of patients. However, the overall effectiveness of this treatment has been a subject of considerable debate, some authors even reaching the conclusion that the observed results can be explained in terms of a placebo effect (Rosen and Barsoum 1979). In this review we will try to answer the question which is most important from the patient’s point of view: (1) What is the effect of SCS on spasticity and accompanying motor impairment? We will also examine the data which are available with respect to the following questions which are important for the physician: (2) Is there a difference between the effect of SCS in MS patients, who have a fluctuating clinical course, and patients with other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, trauma, and cerebellar atrophies, in which the clinical course is either stabilized or progressive?

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Prof. J. Gybels

    Present address: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kliniek voor Neurologie en Neurochirurgie, Universitair Ziekenhuis “Gasthuisberg”, Leuven, Belgium

    Prof. J. Gybels

  2. Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik, Bonn-Venusberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    D. Van Roost

Authors
  1. Prof. J. Gybels
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  2. D. Van Roost
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Lyon, France

    Marc P. Sindou M.D.

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, USA

    I. Richmond Abbott M.D.

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France

    Yves Keravel M.D.

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Wien

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Gybels, J., Van Roost, D. (1991). Spinal cord stimulation for spasticity. In: Sindou, M.P., Abbott, I.R., Keravel, Y. (eds) Neurosurgery for Spasticity. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6708-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6708-3_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-7388-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-6708-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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