Spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of pain and toe ulceration associated with systemic sclerosis: a case report

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is a complex disease characterized by extensive fibrosis, microvascular alterations, and additional sequelae. Microvascular alterations can cause painful ulcers and necrosis; however, conservative or surgical treatment is often challenging in terms of healing. The study aimed to describe a toe ulcer with systemic sclerosis and its’ successful treatment with spinal cord stimulation. An 83-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis over the past decade, was distressed by a non-healing toe ulcer for an extended period of time. The patient underwent spinal cord stimulation treatment with the expectation of pain relief and an improvement in microcirculatory insufficiency. Her pain scales and microcirculation improved, and the toe ulcer healed. Furthermore, the frequency of Raynaud’s symptoms was reduced, and the patient’s pain decreased. There was no recurrence of the ulcer and she no longer needed a cane for walking.