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A infografia mostra como funciona um estimulador da medula espinal.
GN38573PT

MEDICINA

Estimulares da espinal medula

November 27, 2018 - Um estimulador da espinal medula destina-se a ajudar os doentes que
sofrem de dor crónica. Um pequeno gerador de impulsos envia sinais
para a medula, mascarando as mensagens de dor dirigidas ao cérebro.

The American Chronic Pain Association found that one in three Americans suffers from chronic pain, pain that persists for months and sometimes years. Chronic pain costs as much as $635 billion yearly, more than the cost of cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Opioid painkillers prescribed for chronic pain are highly addictive and result in 115 overdose deaths in the U.S. every day. Chronic pain also affects one in five Europeans -- some 100 million people.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved (FDA), drug-free treatment option has helped patients manage their chronic pain without addictive medication for over four decades.

However, an Associated Press report on spinal stimulators -- part of a nearly year-long joint investigation of the US$5.9 billion global medical devices industry -- found that that the FDA had 78,172 injury reports between 2008 and 2017, equating to a 13 per cent chance of injury.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 29/11/2018; STORY: Graphic News
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