[Epidural spinal electrostimulation (ESES) in patients with chronic pain and central motor disturbances (author's...

Epidural spinal electrostimulation (ESES), as method in the treatment of patients with chronic pain or severe central motor disturbances, especially spastic paresis of spinal origin and bladder dysfunction, is indicated when conservative measures prove ineffectual and before surgical intervention is considered. The biochemical and innervation processes which are brought about by ESES are discussed, as well as the literature on the efficacy and possible complications of the method. Twenty cases were subjected to a test stimulation and in twelve of these the stimulation system was implanted. Spinal spasticity and the range of mobility were improved by 20 to 30% in 8 patients with multiple sclerosis and 3 other patients with myelopathy of varied aetiology. In addition, spastic cramps of abrupt onset, with or without pain, disappeared almost completely following ESES in all cases. Three cases with chronic pain, two after a caudal lesion and one with cervical radicular damage, were markedly improved.