Spinal cord stimulator implanted on 39-year-old at PGIMER

PGIMER today said that its doctors had performed a "rare" feat by implanting a permanent spinal cord stimulator surgically on a 39-year-old patient, who had been confined to wheel chair after surviving a fatal accident in 2006.
Ravi Ranjan, a bank employee, had been confined to wheel chair due to severe pain in both his lower limbs.
After being crushed between two cars while crossing the road, Ravi underwent replacement of both hips in 2006, a release issued by the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here said.
"After surgery till around nine months, Ravi was doing reasonably well and was walking but following that he started having severe pain in both legs and hips. His pain was not getting controlled with any kind of medicine, physiotherapy or injections. This pain was so severe that he was not able to sleep and he became confined to wheelchair," it said.

The release further said that the patient's leg muscles started to twitch even on slightest movements.
"He would have to drag himself using a walker for even doing basic daily activities. His quality of life was miserable. He was under treatment of Dr Babita Ghai, additional professor, department of anaesthesia, at pain clinic, PGIMER, Chandigarh for nearly two years.

"After trying all possible treatment modalities available, a spinal cord stimulation trial was performed by Dr Babita in October 2014, which showed successful results and provided him nearly 70-80 per cent pain relief," it said.
On January 2 this year, a permanent spinal cord stimulator (SCS) was surgically implanted on Ravi by Ghai with the help of neurosurgeon Dr Rajesh Chabbra at PGIMER.

"This is the first SCS implant placement in this region. After this procedure Ravi is doing extremely well and is completely pain relieved. The medications for pain, which he was taking for years together, are stopped now. He has started moving his both ankles and knees and may be able walk over few months," the release said.
As per the release, spinal cord stimulation delivers mild electrical impulses near the spinal cord that interrupt pain signals to the brain, replacing them with a tingling sensation.
In permanent implantation, the electrical leads are surgically placed in targeted site of epidural space near spinal cord and pulse generator device is placed in buttock or abdominal wall just below the skin.

The stimulation to the spinal cord is delivered using a handheld device that works like a remote control. Stimulation can be adjusted to specific areas and levels of pain, depending on activities and pain levels during the day, the release said.