What this Trial Is About

Camptocormia is defined by abnormal flexion of the trunk, not fixed, present when standing and walking, resolves when lying down and often complicated by lower back pain. It can be observed in numerous neurological pathologies with a prevalence ranging between 5 and 19% in Parkinson's disease. The physiopathology of camptocormia associated with PD is not completely elucidated, however several mechanisms are discussed, including muscular hypertonia, abdominal muscle dystonia, proprioceptive deficit, iatrogenics linked to dopamine agonists, and focal myopathy. Although its impact is major and greater than the main symptoms of the disease, no specific treatment has been the subject of a marketing authorization request in this indication. Its management remains difficult and usually consists of: adjusting the antiparkinsonian treatment, reducing or even eliminating dopamine agonists, resorting to botulinum toxin injections and rehabilitation, sometimes with the use of a corset. However, the results observed are most often disappointing. The benefit of more invasive techniques, such as deep brain stimulation, classically proposed in advanced forms at the stage of motor complications of PD, is discussed by certain authors. Numerous studies thus suggest that bilateral stimulation of the NST could have a significant but moderate beneficial effect on postural disorders associated with PD, in particular on camptocormia. Likewise, the results of a retrospective study recently conducted in 36 Parkinson's patients discuss the effectiveness of bi-pallidal stimulation. Furthermore, surgical interventions by arthrodesis remain invasive and cause more frequent complications in Parkinson's patients with camptocormia compared to patients with isolated degenerative spinal pathology. Electrical spinal cord stimulation (ESS) is a validated technique in the management of chronic neuropathic pain. Several publications suggest that it could be effective on postural disorders in PD. Thus, authors report the case of a Parkinson's patient afflicted with painful camptocormia refractory to drug treatments and deep brain stimulation who benefited from EMS with a remarkable effect on pain, walking and posture. This observation is corroborated by data collected in 3 Parkinson's patients with camptocormia subjected to EMS with a beneficial effect on painful and motor symptoms. The mechanism of action could be linked to the correction of the proprioceptive deficit via ascending stimulation of the basal ganglia. On the other hand, the effectiveness of repetitive spinal cord magnetic stimulation was evaluated in a study carried out in 37 patients with camptocormia associated with PD.

Evaluation of the Safety of Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation in Parkinson's Patients Presenting With Painful Camptocormia