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Dorsal root ganglion stimulation device explantation: A multicenter pooled data analysis
Kenneth B Chapman1,2,3, Ajax Yang1,3, Alon Y Mogilner4
1The Spine & Pain Institute of New York, New York, New York, USA.
Summary
Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) shows low explantation rates, with inadequate pain relief being the primary reason for removal. Minimizing complications may further reduce therapy termination in patients receiving DRG-S.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) is an emerging neuromodulation technique for chronic pain.
- Long-term data on DRG-S device explantation rates are limited.
- Assessing explantation rates is crucial for understanding device longevity and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term explantation rates of DRG-S devices.
- To identify the primary reasons for DRG-S device explantation.
- To analyze complications associated with DRG-S therapy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 249 patients implanted with DRG-S across four pain centers (April 2016 - September 2020).
- Data collected included patient demographics, diagnoses, explantation times, complications, and failure etiologies.
- Mean follow-up duration was 27 months.
Main Results:
- The overall explantation rate was approximately 2% per year, with 10 total explantations in 249 patients.
- Inadequate pain relief was the leading cause for explantation (6 patients).
- Device-related complications (e.g., lead fracture, migration) and infection (0.4%) contributed to explantation.
Conclusions:
- DRG-S demonstrates a low therapy termination rate in long-term follow-up.
- Inadequate pain relief is the main driver for explantation.
- Reducing adverse events and complications could potentially lower explantation rates for DRG-S therapy.
