Spinal cord stimulation for severe degenerative joint disease of the shoulder in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a new indication?

Anesth Analg. 2010 Jan 1;110(1):220-1. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181c22252. Epub 2009 Nov 6.

Abstract

Approximately 70% of the United States population older than 65 yr has osteoarthritis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also more prevalent in the elderly, and thus, the likelihood of having elderly patients with osteoarthritis and COPD in clinical settings is significant. COPD may preclude the optimum use of opioids, thus the potential to provide pain control with nonpharmacological treatment modalities becomes a valuable option. We present the case of an elderly woman with severe degenerative joint disease of the shoulder and severe COPD in whom spinal cord stimulation was used to provide pain control.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy*
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Epidural Space / diagnostic imaging
  • Epidural Space / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Osteoarthritis / complications*
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / complications*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography
  • Shoulder Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Shoulder Pain / etiology*
  • Shoulder Pain / therapy*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord / physiology*
  • Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*