Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a recommended treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. Persistent nonoperative low back pain of neuropathic origin has profound negative impacts on patient's lives. This prospective, open label, research study aimed to explore the use of SCS in patients with associated features of central sensitisation such as allodynia and hyperalgesia. ⋯ The 10 kHz SCS improved back and leg pain, QoL, pain-related disability and medication consumption in patients with nonoperative back pain of neuropathic origin. With further research incorporating a sham control arm, the efficacy of 10 kHz SCS in this patient cohort will become more established.
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is nowadays available with several stimulation paradigms. New paradigms, such as high dose (HD-)SCS, have shown the possibility to salvage patients who lost their initial pain relief. The first aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of HD-SCS after conversion from standard SCS. The second aim is to develop a model for prediction of long-term response of HD-SCS after unsatisfactory standard SCS. ⋯ Converting patients with unsatisfactory responses from standard SCS to HD-SCS may be an effective strategy to obtain and maintain pain relief in a challenging subgroup of patients with FBSS refractory to standard SCS. The prediction models may guide clinicians in their decision making when considering conversion to HD-SCS in patients with FBSS experiencing inadequate response to standard SCS.
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Spinal cord stimulation is an effective therapy for chronic back and/or leg pain. Amplitude dose-response studies are lacking; therefore, little guidance exists regarding the minimum amplitude requirements with specific high dose parameters. This study characterized the minimum amplitude level that maintained SCS therapy satisfaction and pain relief when stimulating at 1000 Hz and 90 μsec. ⋯ The qualified study patients defined an implanted population reporting good pain relief and satisfaction using HD SCS therapy at baseline. The majority of these patients were able to maintain therapy satisfaction and pain relief (70% and 63.3%, respectively) with 20% perception threshold amplitude. Amplitudes below perception threshold could potentially maintain effective SCS therapy with HD stimulation in a subset of patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Potential Therapeutic Effect of Low Amplitude Burst Spinal Cord Stimulation on Pain.
The SUNBURST Study, a USA-based controlled cross-over trial demonstrated that burst spinal cord stimulation was superior compared to tonic stimulation in suppressing chronic intractable pain. However, when on burst stimulation, participants preferred lower to higher amplitudes. This led to the hypothesis that lower burst amplitudes will correlate with lower pain scores while higher amplitudes will be associated with higher pain scores. ⋯ In burst spinal cord stimulation, in contrast to tonic stimulation, lower amplitudes are more effective in suppressing pain than high amplitudes.
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Ten kilohertz spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is usually initiated in a single-bipolar configuration over the radiological reference point T9/T10 intervertebral disc space for neuropathic back and leg pain. Cascade is a duty-cycled, multi-bipolar contact configuration across an entire eight-contact lead. Potential advantages by using a broader area of SCS coverage include mitigation against minor lead migration and a reduction in the need for reprogramming. We report here the results of a retrospective case series of 114 patients using Cascade. ⋯ Cascade is an effective programming methodology that may have benefits over a single-bipole configuration for 10 kHz SCS, particularly during a trial of stimulation. Results from this study suggest it is a durable program for patients with neuropathic back and leg pain.