PLACEMENT OF A DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATOR HOW TO
PLACEMENT OF A DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATOR GENERATOR
PLACEMENT OF A DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATOR TRIAL

Thoracic vertebrae are the only ones that support the ribs. The thoracic region (vertebrae T1-T12) is composed of 12 small bones in the upper chest.They are the thinnest and most delicate vertebrae. Openings in these vertebrae allow arteries to carry blood to the brain and permit the spinal cord to pass through. The cervical vertebrae are more mobile than other areas, with the atlas and axis vertebra facilitating a wide range of motion in the neck. Their main function is to support the weight of the head, which averages 10 pounds. The cervical region (vertebrae C1-C7) encompasses the first seven vertebrae under the skull.

PLACEMENT OF A DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATOR HOW TO

Your spine surgeon will give you specific information related to your particular condition and lifestyle goals, as well as a detailed description of the surgery and instructions on how to make the best recovery. Usually patients are discharged the same day and can gradually increase their activity after two to three weeks of healing.

PLACEMENT OF A DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATOR GENERATOR

The generator is implanted near the abdomen, upper buttocks, or upper chest, depending on where the pain originates. After electrodes are placed within the area from which pain originates, the patient is sedated and a small incision is made to implant the stimulator, an electric pulse generator about the size of a stopwatch. The actual implant procedure is a surgical procedure and is typically done only in an operating room setting. The leads are connected to an external wireless neurostimulator that is secured to the patient’s back during the trial. Leads, which are thin, flexible wires, are placed in near the spine using a special needle.

PLACEMENT OF A DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATOR TRIAL

The trial procedure usually takes about 30 to 90 minutes and is done in a clinic, day surgery center, or hospital. The spinal cord stimulator trial, which lasts about a week, involves stimulation through thin wires inserted into the body and controlled by an external transmitter. What to expect during a Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial and Implantation Controlled sensors automatically adjust to body movement, and generator life is longer. Technological advances have made the battery-powered generators that are implanted smaller, and some models are now safe to be used with MRI. The treatment is used for a range of conditions, including chronic neck or back pain, chronic regional pain syndrome, failed back surgery syndrome, arachnoiditis, peripheral neuropathy, radicular pain syndrome and radiculopathies, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Patients undergo a trial period first to determine if the minimally invasive treatment is an effective option to improve the patient’s functionality and decrease the need for pain medication. Spinal cord stimulation is a cutting-edge treatment that blocks pain signals from the nerves in the spine to the brain. What is Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial and Implantation?

Placement of a dorsal column stimulator