Spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type 1: Is trial truly required?

Implantation of a spinal cord neurostimulator presented significant improvement in pain and disability of patients with type 1 CRPS in all cases. These results were obtained following the criteria: 1) patients presenting unequivocal diagnosis of type 1 CRPS; 2) submitted to constant current spinal cord neurostimulator implant; 3) underwent intraoperative tests for precise location of the spinal cord electrode implantation. Therefore, it is possible to suggest that a trial may be unnecessary in that subgroup of patients. Further studies would be required to confirm these findings.