Motor function test as objective tool for evaluation of spinal cord stimulation trial in four patients with lumbar spinal cord stenosis

Abstract

Lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) causes characteristic symptoms of lower limb pain possibly due to oppression or ischemia of the spinal cord and the cauda equina nerve. The symptom is often relieved at rest, therefore the assessment of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) using pain scores can be unclear during hospitalization. We used motor function tests as the evaluation of SCS trial in addition to pain scores in four LCS patients aged 57–85 years. The motor function tests included Time Up & Go test, 10 m walking time and walking distance measurement. The SCS trial improved the motor function tests in all patients, however, the improvement of pain scores were uneven. It is suggested that motor function tests may be useful as an objective tool for evaluation of SCS trial in addition to the subjective pain scores during hospitalization.