Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Multicenter Study
Therapy-Related Explants After Spinal Cord Stimulation: Results of an International Retrospective Chart Review Study.
Clinical trials of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have largely focused on conversion from trial to permanent SCS and the first years after implant. This study evaluates the association of type of SCS and patient characteristics with longer-term therapy-related explants. ⋯ This international, real-world study found higher explant rates for conventional rechargeable and high-frequency SCS than nonrechargeable systems. The increased rate for conventional rechargeable stimulation persisted after covariate adjustment.
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We report the outcome of a consecutive series of 26 patients suffering from chronic medically-refractory neuropathic pain of the upper limb (including 16 patients with complex regional pain syndrome), topographically limited, treated by brachial plexus (BP) nerve roots or supra-scapular nerve (SSN) peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). ⋯ In this pilot study, SSN or BP roots PNS provided a relatively safe, durable and effective option to control upper limb neuropathic pain.
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While spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has established itself as an accepted and validated treatment for neuropathic pain, there are a number of conditions where it has experienced less, long-term success: post amputee pain (PAP) being one of them. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation has shown great promise, particularly in conditions where traditional SCS has fallen short. One major difference between DRG stimulation and traditional SCS is the ability to provide focal stimulation over targeted areas. While this may be a contributing factor to its superiority, it can also be a limitation insofar stimulating the wrong DRG(s) can lead to failure. This is particularly relevant in conditions like PAP where neuroplastic maladaptation occurs causing the pain to deviate from expected patterns, thus creating uncertainty and variability in predicting targets for stimulation. We propose selective radiofrequency (RF) stimulation of the DRG as a method for preoperatively predicting targets for neuromodulation in patients with PAP. ⋯ Mapping the DRG via RF stimulation appears to provide improved accuracy for determining lead placement in the setting of PAP where pain patterns are known to deviate from conventional dermatomal mapping.
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Observational Study
Effect of Multicolumn Lead Spinal Cord Stimulation on Low Back Pain in Failed Back Surgery Patients: A Three-Year Follow-Up.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) remains poorly efficient at reducing back pain in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) patients. We aimed at determining whether a new multicolumn lead SCS technique was efficient at durably reducing their leg (LP) and back (BP) pain. ⋯ Multicolumn lead SCS in FBSS patients significantly improve BP, LP, quality of life, and medication consumption for at least 36 months. A classical placebo effect cannot account for long-term improvements of such magnitude.
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While dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation has been available in Europe and Australia for the past five years and in the United States for the past year, there are no published details concerning the optimal procedures for DRG lead implantation. ⋯ We present implantation techniques whereby a percutaneous lead is placed over the DRG through the use of a special designed delivery sheath. Further investigation of the safety, efficacy, and sustainability of clinical outcomes using these devices is warranted.