Spinal Cord Stimulation in Small Fiber Neuropathy: A Case Report
Vittorio Schweiger1, Libera Villagrossi1, Alvise Martini1
1Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Background:
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established pain treatment in several chronic neuropathic pain conditions refractory to conservative treatments. Neuropathic pain due to small fiber neuropathy (SFN) may represent a further indication.
Case Report:
We treated with SCS a 22-year-old female patient with SFN and chronic neuropathic pain. After an initial effective trial targeting the lower limbs with improvement in pain and quality of life, a definitive implant was performed. Ten months later, a single cervical octopolar electrode was inserted to treat upper limb pain with the same protocol (i.e., initial effective trial and definitive implant). Also, in this case, the patient experienced a significant global reduction in upper limb pain.
Conclusions:
To date, evidence for the SCS efficacy in refractory SFN-related pain is still limited to small case series or case reports. Our experience may help to validate this indication.
