Spinal Cord Stimulation Outperforms Conventional Management in Chronic Pain Relief

Spinal Cord Stimulation Outperforms Conventional Management in Chronic Pain Relief

November 25, 2024 Catherine Williams Tech

Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Pain

Overview:
New research shows that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapies are more effective than conventional medical management (CMM) for reducing chronic back and leg pain.

Research Method:

  • A systematic review and network meta-analysis examined 13 randomized clinical trials.
  • The study included over 1,500 adults suffering from chronic back and leg pain who had no prior SCS treatment.
  • Novel therapies evaluated include high-frequency, burst, differential target multiplexed, and closed-loop SCS. Conventional therapies evaluated include tonic SCS waveforms.
  • Researchers assessed pain intensity, quality of life (measured by EuroQol-5 Dimensions), and functional disability (using the Oswestry Disability Index).
  • Data was collected at multiple follow-up points: 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Six-month data represented the longest reported time across all outcomes.

Key Findings:

  • Both conventional and novel SCS therapies surpassed CMM for pain reduction.
  • Novel SCS therapies resulted in a greater likelihood (odds ratio 8.76) of achieving at least a 50% reduction in back pain.
  • The average pain intensity reduced significantly for both SCS types, with novel therapies showing a mean difference of −2.34 for back pain and −4.01 for lower leg pain.
  • Quality of life improved with both therapies, with novel SCS therapies achieving a mean difference of 0.17 in EQ-5D index scores.
  • Conventional SCS showed the most significant functional improvement (mean difference of −7.10 in Oswestry Disability Index scores) compared to CMM.

Study Leadership and Publication:
The study was led by Frank J.P.M. Huygen, PhD, MD, from Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was published online on November 14 in JAMA Network Open.

Limitations and Funding:
This study received funding from Medtronic. Huygen reported outside personal fees from Abbott, Saluda, and Grunenthal. The other authors disclosed funding from Medtronic.