[Lower limb ischemia cured by stimulation electrode implantation assisted with microendoscopic discectomy system: A...

A 58-year-old male patient diagnosed with thromboangiitis obliterans (Fontaine stage IV) was recently treated with microendoscope discectomy system-assisted spinal cord stimulation electrode implantation and cured by department of vascular surgery combined with department of spinal surgery at Peking University People's Hospital. The patient suffered from cold injury to the right foot 14 years ago, which was cold, painful, numb, and then the toe was ulcerated and gangrene. Only the right foot small toe was left. The right foot skin was swollen from the toe to the proximal segment 1 year ago, accompanied by resting pain. Both pain and autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation were ineffective. The above symptoms were aggravated three months ago, and the pain was severe. The visual analogue score was 10 points. A high amputation of the left lower extremity was performed 30 years ago due to trauma. Physical examination: the bilateral femoral artery was weak, and the right radial artery, posterior tibial artery, and dorsal artery were not touched. Buerger sign (+). Auxiliary examination: angiography of both lower extremities showed complete occlusion of the bilateral external iliac artery and its distal end. The percutaneous oxygen partial pressure was measured to be 30 mmHg on the right side of the iliac crest. The operation was performed under the local anesthesia. After X-ray positioning, the body projection of the lumbar vertebrae 1-2 lamina gap was marked. The skin had a 1.8 cm incision on the caudal side 2 cm from the mark. Then the dilators were used, and the working sleeve was tilted to the lumbar vertebrae 1-2 lamina gap. The microendoscope discectomy system was installed, the electrode was directly placed into the epidural space from the interlamina space under the microendoscope, the vascular surgeon adjusted the position of the electrode in the spinal canal under fluoroscopy, then connected the stimulator, adjusted the current until the patient had the lower limb fever, fixed electrode position, removed the microendoscope discectomy system after hemostasis under the microendoscope, used the guide needle to lead the electrode through the lumbar subcutaneous and then sutured the incision. After the operation, the electrode was connected to the temporary stimulator to stimulate for several minutes, the patient felt numbness in his lower limbs. In less than one hour, the skin temperature of the affected limb increased, and the painkiller could be stopped while sleeping. After 1 week, the skin temperature of the affected limb increased, and the percutaneous oxygen partial pressure of the foot and ankle was 36 mmHg, and the pain improved, and the score was reduced to 2 points. One month after surgery, the patient underwent permanent stimulator implantation. The pain disappeared after 3 months and half year of follow-up, and the score was reduced to 1 point. Microendoscope discectomy system-assisted spinal cord stimulation electrode implantation can complete the operation quickly, safely and effectively, and greatly reduce the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy and reduce the occurrence of complications.