Pain Service - Removal of the Temporary Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial Lead

You have been given this leaflet because you have had your spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial lead/s removed today in clinic.

The Consultant will have discussed the procedure and the possible complications of the SCS trial with you before your trial implant. Serious complications from epidurals, include infection or bleeding, are very rare (1 in 10,000).

Many of these rare complications may occur within a few weeks after the SCS trial wire is inserted. In the unlikely event of an epidural abscess (pus) or haematoma (blood clot) occurring, and causing pressure on your spinal cord, it is crucial to diagnose and treat this problem as quickly as possible.

The diagnosis and treatment should be done by expert hospital doctors to prevent delays in treatment and long-lasting nerve damage. This information tells you what to look for and what action to take if you think you have one or more of these complications.

When the leads were removed a small wound dressing was applied to the SCS lead exit site and you have been asked to keep the dressing on for at least 24 hours and to keep the area clean as possible.

The doctors and nurses will have asked you to move your legs and examined you to make sure that the sensation (or feeling) in your legs is the same as before the implant. If you do have altered sensation your team will discuss this with you.

Symptoms to look out for following removal of the SCS trial leads:

• Redness, pus, tenderness, or pain at the epidural wound site (this is the wound in the centre of your spine)
• Feeling generally unwell even though all seems well with the surgical wound
• High temperature, neck stiffness, headache
• Numbness and/or weakness in your legs, not able to weight bear
• Difficulty passing urine or incontinence of urine and/or faeces

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above as a new problem after your trial leads are removed please contact the Pain Centre on 0161 206 4002 urgently during office hours (Monday-Friday 8.30am-16.00pm).

• Immediately ask to speak to a member of the Spinal Cord Stimulator Team
• You will probably be advised to go urgently to the Accident and Emergency department (A&E) at Salford Royal
• If it is out of office hours, please go directly to the Accident and Emergency department at Salford Royal
• Tell the staff in A&E that you have recently had an epidural spinal cord stimulator lead removed and bring this leaflet with you
• You will then be referred for assessment by the on-call Neurosurgeon