Prospective Case Series on the Use of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Focal Mononeuropathy Treatment

Abstract

Aim: This case series looks at outcomes in 39 patients implanted using the Bioness Stimrouter system on various isolated mononeuropathies. Patients & methods: A case series of 39 patients with a total of 42 implants were enrolled starting August 2017 at various pain management centers. Results: Of 39 patients studied, 78% of the participants noticed an improvement in their pain. There was a 71% reduction in pain scores with the average preprocedure score of 8 improving to 2 post-implant. Participants noted on average a 72% improvement in activity with the greatest observed in the brachial plexus (80%) and suprascapular nerve (80%) and smallest in the intercostal nerve (40%). Approximately 89% of those implanted with a peripheral nerve stimulator experienced a greater than 50% reduction in opioid consumption. Conclusion: Peripheral nerve stimulators are a new, minimally invasive neuromodulation modality that shows promising early results in our 39-patient case series.

Comparing neuromodulation modalities involving the suprascapular nerve in chronic refractory shoulder pain: retrospective case series and literature review

“…There were no RCTs found that assessed the efficacy of PNS therapy to the suprascapular nerve in chronic refractory shoulder pain patients. Table 4 lists all four clinical reports obtained for stimulator implants on the suprascapular nerve [9][10][11][12]. Among the two case reports listed: one patient had no pain at rest and excellent shoulder joint range of motion at the 3-month follow-up [9], while the other had no pain and did not require any pain medications at 9 months post-implantation [11].…”

“…Among the two case reports listed: one patient had no pain at rest and excellent shoulder joint range of motion at the 3-month follow-up [9], while the other had no pain and did not require any pain medications at 9 months post-implantation [11]. There was also a large prospective case series which included one patient who underwent an implant on the suprascapular nerve and experienced 66.7% improvement in pain scores and 80% improvement in movement capacity [12]. Lastly, there was a retrospective case series in which a subset of nine patients underwent suprascapular nerve stimulator implant: pain score improved > 50% for eight patients, mean pain improvement was 70%, and 6 patients had > 50% improvement at last follow-up which was between 2 to 4 years [10].…”

“…Kurt (2016) [11] Case report, 1 9 mo Pain score, requirement of pain medications Patient had no pain and had no requirement to take pain medications. Oswald (2019) [12] Prospective case series, 1 patient with suprascapular implant 3-6 mo VAS pain score, activity, opioid consumption Patient had 66.7% improvement in VAS, 80% improvement in activity, and no change in opioid consumption.…”

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review of Effectiveness and Safety

“…Of the eight RCTs and 11 observational studies considered for inclusion, three RCTs [ 95 , 134 , 136 ] and eight observational studies [ 66 , 98 , 103 , 104 , 113 , 116 , 121 , 142 ] were considered low quality on the appropriate ASIPP analysis and were excluded.…”

Understanding the Role of Patient Preference in the Treatment Algorithm for Chronic Low Back Pain: Results from a Survey-Based Study

“…Multiple new interventional pain management therapies have emerged over the past several years including, but not limited to, high frequency and burst spinal cord stimulation [4][5][6][7], dorsal root ganglion stimulation [8,9], cooled radiofrequency ablation [10,11], and temporary and permanent percutaneously implanted peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) [12,13]. While the data in support of these therapies is growing at a rapid pace [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], insights into patient-preferences that may impact physician guidance and choice of treatment have not yet been characterized.…”