Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy

Abstract

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), or post-laminectomy syndrome, is a form of chronic lumbar radiculopathy characterized by persistent pain following spinal surgery. When medical management for FBSS fails, three surgical options remain: revision lumbar surgery, spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or intrathecal infusion pump placement. If faced with neurological deficits and correlative compressive lesions, revision lumbar surgery is often indicated. But in the absence of such complications, surgeons and their patients can explore the two latter options. Thus, this chapter will implement a case study to navigate the decision making involved when choosing either SCS or intrathecal infusion pump placement.