Significant cephalad lead migration with use of externally powered spinal cord stimulator

Spinal cord stimulation has been an effective therapy for treatment of chronic low back pain over the last four decades. Over the years, there have been significant technological advances in the neuromodulation devices. Externally powered neuromodulation devices, that do not require an internal pulse generator (IPG) implantation, have recently been approved for treatment of chronic pain and the data on potential pitfalls and unforeseen complications with these devices is minimal. Here, we report a case of a 60-year-old woman with chronic back pain who underwent the implantation of one of such devices and developed complication that required neurosurgical intervention. The epidural stimulator leads in the patient migrated cranially to the T2 level that required extensive neurosurgical exploration. We believe this is the first reported case of such significant cranial epidural lead migration with the use of neurostimulation devices and demands more research into the safety of externally powered neurostimulation devices.

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