Patient-Reported Satisfaction with Using a Rechargeable 10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation Device

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Neuromodulation
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Chronic pain affects many individuals, with pharmacotherapy often suboptimal for long-term management.
• High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (10 kHz SCS) provides a safe and effective alternative for trunk and limb pain.
• Rechargeable implantable pulse generators (IPGs) for SCS reduce patient risk and cost but their convenience is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the burden of rechargeable IPG use in patients undergoing 10 kHz SCS.
• To evaluate patient satisfaction with 10 kHz SCS and its rechargeable IPG technology.
• To determine if IPG recharging poses a barrier to the benefits of 10 kHz SCS.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of real-world patient data from an industry-maintained database.
• Inclusion of 10,391 patients with chronic trunk and/or limb pain treated with 10 kHz SCS.
• Assessment of patient satisfaction with SCS efficacy and IPG recharging convenience.

Main Results:

• A majority of patients reported satisfaction with 10 kHz SCS efficacy; 77% would repeat the procedure and 71% would recommend it.
• 70% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with IPG recharging, with 19% neutral.
• Most patients recharged their devices daily for 30-60 minutes without significant burden.

Conclusions:

• Recharging a 10 kHz SCS IPG is generally not perceived as inconvenient or burdensome by patients.
• IPG recharging does not prevent patients from benefiting from 10 kHz SCS for long-term pain relief.
• Rechargeable 10 kHz SCS technology is practical and convenient for the majority of patients.