Analysis of Pain Resolution after Surgical Resection of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Cavernous Malformations

Abstract

The surgical efficacy for improving pain related to intramedullary spinal cavernous malformations may be worse than implied in the literature. Although pain relief immediately after surgery is good, we found that recurrence is common and that only approximately 50% of patients report long-term benefit. Despite the significant limitations of this retrospective study, these data may serve as a guide when counseling patients preoperatively to help them to maintain realistic expectations about outcomes.