Spinal cord stimulation surgical technique for the nonsurgically trained

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Pain Management
• Medical Education

Background:

• Many spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanters lack formal surgical residency training.
• Surgical techniques are often acquired through fellowships or proctoring.
• A need exists for standardized, evidence-based surgical education in SCS implantation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To educate physicians on current spinal cord stimulator (SCS) surgical techniques.
• To reinforce appropriate surgical practices for SCS implantation.
• To introduce a novel, simplified one-incision technique for internal pulse generator (IPG) implantation.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation.
• Detailed description of a proposed one-incision surgical technique for internal pulse generator (IPG) implantation.
• Educational content aimed at surgeons and interventional pain physicians.

Main Results:

• Provides a comprehensive overview of established SCS surgical techniques.
• Presents a novel, potentially advantageous one-incision IPG implantation method.
• Highlights the technique's utility for less-experienced implanters.

Conclusions:

• The paper serves as a valuable educational resource for fellows and practicing physicians in SCS implantation.
• The proposed one-incision technique offers a simpler approach with potential benefits for surgical efficiency.
• This work aims to improve the quality and consistency of SCS surgical procedures.