Stanculescu had asked the court to suspend his sentence, pleading medical problems.
The court decided Stanculescu will receive medical care in the penitentiary system.
The decision is not definitive and may be appealed with a higher court.
On October 16, 2008, the Supreme Court sentenced former high-ranking generals Athanasie Stanculescu and Mihai Chitac to 15 years in prison each for aggravated manslaughter during the 1989 revolution.
Chitac and Stanculescu, both in their 80s, were first sentenced in 1999 on aggravated murder charges for ordering troops to fire at demonstrators in Timisoara city, western Romania. In December 17-20, 1989, security forces fired at civilians, killing 72 people and injuring 253.
Chitac died on November 1, 2010.