Spinal cord injury caused by electrical stimulation of thoracic spinal cord for treatment of diabetic foot: A case report

Approximately 10,000 cases of spinal cord injury (SCI), most caused by trauma, are reported each year. We present a unique case of injury secondary to electrical stimulation of the thoracic spinal cord for the treatment of diabetic foot. The patient developed symptoms of acute-phase spinal cord shock after surgery, and the expected therapeutic results were achieved by methylprednisolone and other treatments. Improper program control may destroy the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation for pain relief. This case should alert physicians to the potential risks of neuroregulation following epidural placement of electrodes.