Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Resource Use and Cost of Subcutaneous Nerve Stimulation Versus Optimized Medical Management in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: An Analysis of the SubQStim Study.
To undertake a detailed healthcare resource use and cost analysis of the SubQStim study, which randomized patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) with low back pain to receive subcutaneous nerve field stimulation in combination with optimized medical management (treatment) or optimized medical management alone (control). ⋯ Subcutaneous nerve field stimulation has the potential to offset the initial costs of the device by reducing analgesic medication and the number of healthcare visits in FBSS patients, alongside potential gains in health-related quality of life. There remains uncertainty in long-term costs and cost-effectiveness of stimulation and longer-term follow-up analyses are needed.