Failed Back Surgery Syndrome and intrathecal drugs infusion

Even if there is no study evaluating how often Failed Back Surgery Syndrome is the cause of pain in patients who need spinal drugs infusion to control their symptoms, it seems that in most centres, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome was the most frequent indication for spinal cord stimulation and for intrathecal analgesic delivery pumps implantation. In our experience of spinal drug delivery for pain, about one third of the patients (35.7%) had undergone one or more spinal surgeries.A literature search was performed looking for intrathecal drugs infusion and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome or chronic back and leg pain without specification of previous surgery. The data in which we were interested were trialling methods, drugs used, outcomes and side effects. A comparison was made with the 14. years experience in intrathecal drugs infusion in our centre.We evaluated the side effects reported with chronic spinal drugs infusion even if not specific for patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.