Placement of an electrode array as a dural substitute for dorsal column stimulation: technical note

One the drawbacks of the dorsal column stimulation (DCS) method is that the electrode array and the subsequent electrical stimulation induce proliferation of connective tissue between the array and the dura. In this case report, a patient is presented in whom dural thickening after placement of a DCS electrode array at the C2-C3 level prevented sufficient electrical penetration and thus resulted in treatment failure. The thickened dura was excised and the electronic array was used as a dural substitute. This resulted in efficient DCS and resolution of the pain symptoms.