Presentation
Chest pain. Pain remains unalleviated by traditional means (i.e. medication).
Patient Data
The 2 electrodes of the spinal cord stimulator are seen projecting over the spinal canal in the mid and posterior lower thoracic region and 2 wires are seen coursing into the mid abdomen.
Case Discussion
A spinal cord stimulator alleviates pain through sending minimal electricity directly into the spinal cord. This implant is often a last resort when other non-surgical pain treatment options have failed; however, it often remains in use alongside other treatment options.
This case was submitted with supervision and input from:
Soni C. Chawla, M.D.
Health Sciences Clinical Professor,
Department of Radiological Sciences,
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Attending Pediatric Radiologist,
Olive View - UCLA Medical Center.