A view from 2008.
Tsubokawa et al report that chronic epidural electrical stimulation of the motor cortex results in a reduction in pain. Subsequent results of motor cortex stimulation to alleviate pain in patients with CPSP have variable and less than satisfactory results, considering the invasiveness of the intervention. For example, Katayama et al
report some degree of pain control in 50% of patients using motor cortex stimulation. Nguyen et al report a 77% success rate, although on speaking with one of the authors personally, the actual results are considerably less encouraging. Further refinements are being made to motor cortex stimulation and, considering that the success rate remains suboptimal and quite variable from one clinic to another, this approach to treatment of CPSP is far from satisfactory.