Percutaneous epidural neurostimulation for paraplegic spasticity.

A case of post-paraplegic, post-traumatic spasticity, alleviated by percutaneous epidural neurostimulation from implanted electrodes at the L1 and L3 intervertebral levels, is presented. Secondary beneficial physiological effects and controls of involuntary activity that were achieved were regulation of a bowel regime, production of sweating below the level of the lesion, increased piloerections, and morning penile erections. Electrical modulation of the involuntary motor and autonomic activities below a complete spinal cord injury is discussed. The main advantages of such treatment in modulating spasticity are the avoidance of all other destructive neurosurgical procedures and the regulation of secondary physiological, autonomic responses. Long-term follow-up and additional therapeutic proofs are necessary to substantiate this preliminary report.