Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Epidural Laterality and Pain Relief With Burst Spinal Cord Stimulation.
Burst spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can achieve excellent clinical reduction of pain, alongside improvements in function, quality of life, and related outcomes. Good outcomes likely depend on good lead placement, thereby enabling recruitment of the relevant neural targets. Several competing approaches exist for lead implantation, such as the use of single vs bilateral leads and leads lateralized vs placed at midline. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between paresthesia locations and pain relief with burst SCS in a prospective double-blind crossover design. ⋯ When burst stimulation is delivered to spinal targets that can generate paresthesias contralateral to the side of worst pain, suboptimal therapy is achieved. Thus, attention to laterality and pain coverage is critical for successful therapy, and it may be important to carefully consider lead implantation techniques.
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This study aims to describe the state of literature regarding the use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) during spinal cord stimulator surgery. ⋯ We found a good body of level II evidence that using IONM during SCS surgery is a valid alternative to awake surgery and may even be superior regarding pain management, cost-effectiveness, and postoperative neurologic deficits. In direct comparison, the found evidence suggested using CMAP provided more consistently favorable results than using SSEP for midline placement of epidural leads under general anesthesia. Selection of IONM modality should be made on the basis of pathophysiology of disease, individual IONM experience, and the individual patient.
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) provides pain relief for most patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 (PSPS 2). Evidence is mounting on molecular changes induced by SCS as one of the mechanisms to explain pain improvement. We report the SCS effect on serum protein expression in vivo in patients with PSPS 2. ⋯ This study identifies various biological processes that may underlie PSPS 2 pain and SCS therapeutic effects, including the modulation of neuroimmune response and inflammation, synaptic sprouting, vitamin and iron metabolism, and restorative processes.
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This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the vertebral level of paddle placement and abdominal wall stimulation (AWS) after differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to improve the safety and effectiveness of SCS for patients with chronic pain, particularly those with low back pain (LBP). ⋯ The Clinicaltrials.gov registration number for the study is NCT05565469.
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This study evaluates the use of a three-dimensional virtual reality spinal cord stimulator (SCS) training system to enhance trainee confidence and technical proficiency with interlaminar epidural access and SCS placement. ⋯ Virtually simulated neuromodulation training is a viable and effective method of augmenting neuromodulation education. Such didactics are options vital for neuromodulation training, given variable exposure during residency and fellowship.