Summary
In order to analyse the ratio of costs to clinical benefit of the implantation of a neurostimulator (type Medtronic SE-4) we examined a group of 14 patients who required treatment for chronic lumboischialgia after repeated surgery for herniated discs. Over a period of two years we evaluated the pre and postimplantation costs. The implantation of a DC-Stimulator resulted in a striking decrease in drug requirements, in the total time of clinical treatment, and in the degree of disability. The DCS provides a satisfying method of treatment for chronic lumboischialgia after repeated surgery for herniated discs. Despite relatively high primary costs, treatment with a DCS results in a significant decrease in the accumulated expenses in comparison to other methods of medical treatment in similar cases.
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© 1991 Springer-Verlag/Wien
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Bel, S., Bauer, B.L. (1991). Dorsal Column Stimulation (DCS): Cost to Benefit Analysis. In: Hitchcock, E.R., Broggi, G., Burzaco, J., Martin-Rodriguez, J., Meyerson, B.A., Tóth, S. (eds) Advances in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 9. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplementum, vol 52. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9160-6_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9160-6_33
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