Spinal Cord Stimulation: Parameter Selection and Equipment Choices

Chapter Overview

Chapter Synopsis: In principle, electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be delivered by the simplest of electrodes applied directly to the back, but today’s implanted devices are far more complex. In efforts to maximize the benefits of SCS, designers of medical devices have constructed ever more complicated electrode arrays. For clinicians wisdom seems to come from experience when it comes to selecting the device and other details of SCS implantation. This chapter addresses the many technical considerations driven by clinical and basic science research and the underlying neurophysiology. A common electrophysiological goal of SCS is to stimulate A-beta fibers that innervate the painful region, thereby switching the pain “gate” to allow nonpainful signals to overwhelm neuropathic pain. Stimulation of sympathetic fibers resulting from SCS also has beneficial effects in multiple indications. Optimal implantation of the proper device can improve the chances of success in these aims. The electrode array itself is the first consideration in selecting a patient’s individual course of treatment with SCS. Other factors to consider include power requirements, the optimal power source (rechargeable vs. battery), and placement of the power source in the body. Finally the stimulation pattern used at the electrode can produce varying results and should also be individualized.

Important Points: Contemporary neurostimulators allow changes in amplitude or voltage, frequency, and pulse width; they likely provide different electrophysiological effects at the level of the cord fibers, potentially increasing throughput in some settings while diminishing (blocking) spinal cord transmission in others.

Clinical Pearls: Changing parameters such as frequency may salvage a potentially bad outcome.

Clinical Pitfalls: Reliance on parameters does not relieve the implanter from properly selecting a patient, selecting a device, and completing a properly done implant.

Parameter Selection

The selection of targets for stimulation and the attendant selection of devices is in many respects easy and at the same time complicated, largely because of the massive amounts of anecdotal information and biases. These points of selection should be determined by desired impact on the nervous system and intent of paresthetic overlap on pain. Even more clouded is the selection of parameters of stimulation, wherein device selection may produce limitations and little has been published to support clinical perspectives. Claims among manufacturers of clinical advantage for one reason or another have been based on absent or at best poor science. Experienced users who have developed a keen eye for the characteristics of “responders” in their own hands further mystify new users of the technology as they announce, “this is it!” but fail to acknowledge other treatment perspectives as potentially valid. Yet there are reasonable guidelines for the selection of devices and their parameters that are both sensible and anatomically and physiologically specific.

Although spinal cord stimulation at its simplest requires only that a cathode be placed in position over cord with a closely spaced or distant anode to complete the circuit, many other factors may enter into play to change the stimulation experience for the patient. The intrinsic anatomy and physiology of a given patient is something that must be understood and considered. The selection of a device and its parameters for stimulation is impactful in patients. Most obvious among decisions of device selection is that of the lead or leads comprising the functional array. Array geometry and lead design have been demonstrated to be powerful in fiber selection for stimulation. In particular, much of the recent lead development has been in designing arrays and leads to exclude stimulation of certain fibers, specifically the segmental fibers, in an effort to be better able to stimulate those desired within the cord. The primary example of this is the ability to stimulate the back area rather than the dorsal roots representing the lower quadrants of the abdomen. Other topographic areas of desired stimulation have necessitated the use of alternate targets, such as the sacral nerve roots in patients with pelvic pain disorders.

Much has been said and written about arrays. However, the parameters of stimulation have had relatively little attention. Parameters of stimulation include the frequency or number of pulses per second expressed in Hertz (Hz); pulse width (PW), the duration of each pulse expressed in microseconds; and the amplitude or voltage, representing the power output from the generator. Another factor with potential impact on the experience of the patient is the waveform of each pulse. Although stimulation is done through ramped currents, they are essentially square waves; but the recovery phase of each pulse varies. However, the impact of this variance is less quantifiable because waveforms vary from company to company and may also vary within a given company’s family of devices. Other factors such as constant current vs. constant voltage variances make objective comparisons between one waveform and the next difficult.

The anatomy and physiology relevant to stimulation of spinal cord structures is relatively straightforward. The sine qua non of a properly selected and implanted device for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is comfortable paresthetic overlap on the pain segment. Although this teaching is correct, it may not be necessary to achieve this overlap in all cases, as follows.

To produce paresthesia, Aβ fibers should be stimulated. These lie in the dorsal columns of the spinal cord and have a somatotopic arrangement with the most caudal segments arranged medially, whereas the more cephalad fibers present laterally ( Fig. 7-1 ). Activation of nerve fibers depends on current density, pulse frequency, and specific fiber sensitivity to stimulation. Current density at a target is a function of power output, frequency, and distance to the target. Fiber characteristics that are most impactful to depolarization are size and resting membrane potential and curvature to or from the field. All other things being equal, larger fibers depolarize more readily than smaller fibers. Notably within the spinal cord, different tracts have varying sensitivities to current than others.

Because the descending sympathetic tracts (intermediolateral fasciculus) are relatively sensitive to stimulation, it is reasonable to consider that pain relief secondary to stimulation may be related to direct inhibition of these pathways rather than large-fiber afferent activation. It is known that efficacious stimulation in patients treated for angina pectoris may be delivered below sensory perceptual threshold. Similarly, consideration for the use of stimulation below sensory threshold must be given in those patients who suffer from other conditions in which modulation of the sympathetic nervous system plays a part. Examples of this include complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) 1 with predominant sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) and Raynaud disease. Some have theorized that attention to the patient’s response to sympathetic blocks may predict the outcome from stimulation below sensory perception. This theory has not yet been proven in clinical practice.

Frequency is the parameter that has been easiest to study. Case studies report benefit in many patients achieved by using “high frequencies” to treat when “normal frequencies” have failed. Anecdotal experience shows that most patients prefer frequencies of stimulation of 50 Hz ± 10 Hz. This perception has been supported by Gordon and associates. In some patients with CRPS 1, frequencies have been required that exceed 250 Hz to achieve and or maintain satisfactory outcome. The physiological impact of stimulations as high as 1200 Hz is not well understood. It is conceivable that high-frequency stimulation functions by blocking transmission, perhaps by keeping neurons in their relative refractory period. This would be a frequency-dependent mechanism, as opposed to increasing signal throughput at more conventional frequency ranges (100 ± 50 Hz). The need in some patients for high-frequency stimulation, which is not necessarily predictable based on a trial of stimulation, presents a potential problem if a properly selected generator has not been implanted. Fortunately most current-generation rechargeable generators and some conventional batteries and radiofrequency units are capable of producing high-frequency rates. The obvious disadvantage of conventional batteries in a high-frequency setting is that of early depletion. It would be advisable to consider rechargeable power sources or transcutaneous induction generators that are capable of high-frequency stimulation in patients who suffer with pain from CRPS 1.

Equipment Choices

Matching a device to a patient should always begin with consideration of the best lead array to produce the desired result. In my opinion, the use of percutaneous leads for both trial and permanent implants is an excellent option for treating patients with lower-extremity pain and thoracic radicular pain and angina. In making the decision regarding lead selection for a permanent device, consideration must be given to the topography of pain and the durability of the patient’s implant. Durability is the ability to comfortably stimulate the intended target predictably and repeatedly for the duration of the pain (i.e., the lifetime of the patient). This requires proper device selection, implant methods, and technique and reliability of the equipment. When possible, patients should benefit from additional freedom with the use of these devices, as opposed to increased limitations in activities. A case in point is placing a permanent device in a patient who is found to have high power requirements during the trial, yet implanting them with a percutaneous instead of a paddle system. It is predictable that such a patient will have to lie in the supine position to achieve satisfactory paresthesia after the maturation of the scar increases the impedance to stimulation. This will increase the confinement of the patient. Although more effort may be required to implant paddle leads, they are more efficient than percutaneous leads. They allow a patient to use his or her stimulator with longer intercharge intervals; or, if a conventional battery has been used, to benefit from greater battery life. A commonly treated target that requires higher power output is the low back area. This target is commonly treated as part of a lower extremity pain problem but may need to be considered independently because of its resistance to satisfactory stimulation when using percutaneous leads.

Migration and positional stimulation is problematic in the cervical spine; thus it is advantageous to use retrograde paddle leads under C1-C2 in these cases ( Fig. 7-2 ). The use of paddle leads below the disc space of C2 should be avoided if possible because of concern for both acute and subacute acquired spinal stenosis and resultant paresis or plegia. Preoperative evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging or myelography is essential to the proper evaluation of the cervical canal both before placing a paddle lead and before placing a percutaneous lead ( Fig. 7-3 ). In certain cases percutaneous implantation in the cervical spine may be beneficial for another reason. The patient may prefer stimulation carefully limited to his or her pain area but physiologically may also need a centrally placed lead to help with his or her underlying pathophysiology ( Figs. 7-4 and 7-5 ).