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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Treating Low Back Pain in Failed Back Surgery Patients with Multicolumn-lead Spinal Cord Stimulation
Published on: June 26, 2018
Superior Cluneal Nerve Stimulator Lead Displacement to the Thigh: A Case Report and Management Recommendations
Junho Song1, Tyler Humphrey2, Andrew Zhang3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.
Case:
An 82-year-old man with a history of lumbar spinal stenosis and prior laminectomy presented with chronic lower back pain and was treated with placement of bilateral superior cluneal nerve stimulators. At the 2-week follow-up, the patient reported loss of efficacy and new-onset paresthesia of the left lower extremity. Fluoroscopic evaluation revealed lead breakage and distal migration of the left-sided stimulator lead to the left anteromedial thigh.
Conclusion:
Lead breakage and migration remains a challenge in peripheral nerve stimulation. This report illustrates the case of a nerve stimulator lead breakage and migration resulting in treatment failure and new-onset sensory disturbance.
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