Solutions from Ukraine: Kyiv hospital successfully implants spinal cord stimulator in soldier to alleviate pain for the first time

Kyiv's Feofania Clinical Hospital recently carried out trial implantation of a programmable spinal cord stimulator (SCS) on a soldier suffering from severe neuropathic pain. This is a cutting-edge treatment option that offers significant pain relief in cases where other therapies have failed to produce satisfactory results.

The representatives of the Feofania hospital reported that.

What is the solution?

According to the doctors, using a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implant is a cutting-edge approach to treating persistent pain, utilized when other forms of therapy are insufficient. The process consists of placing electrodes in the epidural region.

"The professionalism and excellent teamwork of the Feofania hospital in treating patients with pain due to combat trauma are bearing fruit. SCS has joined a large number of pain treatment methods currently used to treat the wounded at Feofania. Our team has joined the professional cohort @Vadym Biloshytsky, who has already performed these interventions for wounded defenders," the hospital emphasized.

How does it work?

According to the doctors, the surgery lasted for two hours with the use of local anesthesia, allowing the patient to stay aware and communicate his feelings. The neurosurgeons carefully placed electrodes in the spinal canal's epidural space and fine-tuned their impact based on the patient's response.

"During the Spinal Cord Stimulation test implantation, local anesthesia was used to keep the patient conscious. Under X-ray control, through a small incision in the skin, doctors implanted electrodes for electrical stimulation of the spinal cord – test neurostimulation – into the epidural space of the spinal canal.

After the electrodes were placed, the patient felt the action of the impulses and reported to the doctors about his sensations, nature, and pain intensity. During the operation, the doctors adjusted the stimulation parameters to achieve maximum effect and, having brought the electrode out, connected it to an external electrical source," the doctors explained.

What is SCS, and how does it work?

• Mechanism of action: The technology is based on the "gate theory of pain." The neurostimulator blocks pain signals, replacing them with tactile ones, due to which pain sensations decrease or disappear.

"With the help of a neurostimulator, electrical impulses transmit a "non-painful," tactile signal to the central nervous system, thereby "closing the gate" for the transmission of information about the stimulus that causes pain.

An apt comparison can be made to the situation in which a person is struck and immediately begins to rub the impact site. This promotes the stimulation of tactile receptors and can mitigate the sensation of pain. The hospital clarifies that the SCS technique reduces or eliminates pain intensity."

Right now, the patient is doing well. The test setup for the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) proved successful for the military.

"The pain has almost disappeared. We are preparing for the next stage of treatment – implantation of permanent electrodes and subcutaneous implantation of a neurostimulator. After implantation, doctors will be able to adjust the stimulation settings depending on the patient's condition," the doctors added.

The doctors noted that in everyday life, the patient will control the neurostimulator himself using a small remote control.

The operation was performed as part of a state program: the stimulators were purchased from the state budget for wounded defenders.

The Feofania doctors were trained by their Mayo Clinic colleagues, enabling them to introduce a modern treatment approach in Ukraine.

For reference:

It should be noted that Ukrainian doctors performed 467 organ transplantation operations during the eleven months of 2024.