JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments
Neuroscience
0 views • 2:20 min • August 29th, 2025
Start with a patient diagnosed with failed back surgery syndrome, characterized by persistent chronic lower back pain following the spinal surgeries.
For this treatment, the patient had a multicolumn paddle lead pre-implanted over the spinal cord, positioned at the midline of the T8--T9 vertebral level.
This placement targets the spinal segments that transmit pain signals from the lower back to the brain.
The multicolumn paddle lead features a series of electrodes designed to deliver focused stimulation to the spinal cord.
Next, connect the lead to an external pulse generator.
Deliver electrical pulses through the implanted lead to generate paresthesia--a tingling sensation that overlaps with the patient's painful region.
This stimulation activates non-painful sensory pathways, interrupting pain signals before they ascend to higher centers in the brain.
As a result, the patient's perception of lower back pain is reduced, improving overall comfort.
A few hours after the surgery, connect the external neurostimulator to the extrinsic external lead extensions, and place the clinician programmer onto the external neurostimulator.
Turn on the clinician programmer and the neurostimulation with a p
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