Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Burst SCS Microdosing Is as Efficacious as Standard Burst SCS in Treating Chronic Back and Leg Pain: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.
The burst waveform, a recent innovation in spinal cord stimulation (SCS), can achieve better outcomes than conventional tonic SCS, both for de novo implants and as a salvage therapy. Burst stimulation delivers more energy per second than tonic stimulation, which is a consideration for battery consumption. The clinical effectiveness of an energy-conserving strategy was investigated. ⋯ These results suggest that the use of energy-efficient burst microdosing stimulation paradigms with alternating stimulation-on and stimulation-off periods can provide clinically equivalent results to standard burst stimulation. This is important for extending SCS battery life. Further research is needed to comprehensively characterize the clinical utility of this approach and the neurophysiological mechanisms for the maintenance of pain relief during stimulation-off periods.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Multiple Waveforms on Patient Preferences and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Treated With Spinal Cord Stimulation for Leg and/or Back Pain.
We present the results of a prospective, randomized, crossover, single-blind, study in which each patient is in control of himself. The aim was to evaluate subperception-based (SP-SCS) waveforms in previously implanted spinal cord stimulation (SCS) patients with leg and/or back pain due to failed back surgery syndrome, who experienced only paresthesia-based stimulation (PB-SCS). Patients with PB-SCS experience in SCS was 4.7 years (SD 2.9). ⋯ There was a high heterogeneity regarding waveform preference, with patients who preferred to feel the tingling sensation and those who chose a SP-SCS option, mainly for greater pain relief. In general, SCS is successful, resulting in high pain relief, improvements in quality of life, and little depression. Overall, 42% patients benefited from the novel SP-SCS stimulation waveforms.