• Martine Puylaert, Lynn Nijs, Klaas Buyse, Kris Vissers, Pascal Vanelderen, Margot Nagels, Thomas Daenekindt, Frank Weyns, Dieter Mesotten, Jan Van Zundert, and Koen Van Boxem.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University Medical Centre Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
• Neuromodulation. 2023 Oct 1; 26 (7): 143314401433-1440.

Study DesignThis is a retrospective, observational study.IntroductionSpinal cord stimulation (SCS) has found its application in chronic pain treatment, with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) as one of the most important indications. However, to date, little is known about the long-term effectiveness of the treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze retrospectively the long-term outcomes of SCS treatment in a single multidisciplinary pain center on predominant radicular pain, using devices of a single manufacturer.Materials And MethodsPatient data on overall patient satisfaction, pain intensity, and adverse events were retrospectively collected in our clinical practice between January 1998 and January 2018, for 191 patients who received a permanent SCS implant. Secondary health measures included the influence of opioid and nicotine use on pain reduction after therapy.ResultsThe trial-to-implant ratio was 93.6%. At a mean follow-up of 10.6 years, 78.5% of the patients were satisfied with the treatment outcome, with a significant pain reduction of an average three points on a Numeric Rating Scale. Opioid and nicotine usage did not have a significant link with the pain reduction one year after the treatment. Furthermore, devices had an average battery lifespan of 8.4 years. A total of 248 revisions were recorded. A total of 24 patients (11.7%) acquired an infection; 7 of 204 patients had an infection during the trial period, 2 of 191 patients had an infection in the first postoperative year, and 15 of 191 patients had an infection after the first year. The average time to infection, if not in the first year, was 10.1 years.ConclusionsA successful long-term outcome regarding pain relief in patients with predominant radicular pain due to FBSS is established with SCS therapy.Copyright © 2022 International Neuromodulation Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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