Temporary Peripheral Nerve Stimulation as Treatment for Chronic Pain

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pain Management
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Chronic pain affects millions globally, with limited relief from conventional treatments.
• The opioid epidemic necessitates exploring alternative pain management strategies.
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) therapy is an emerging option for refractory chronic pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of PNS therapy in adult patients with chronic pain.
• To assess pain reduction in patients unresponsive to traditional treatments.
• To analyze PNS therapy's effectiveness across various anatomical locations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of electronic health records from 89 patients undergoing PNS therapy.
• Collected data included demographics, diagnoses, targeted nerves, and pain scores (pre- and post-therapy).
• Statistical analysis utilized paired t-tests to determine significance (p ≤ 0.05).

Main Results:

• Mean pre-operative pain score was 6.36, decreasing to 4.19 post-PNS therapy.
• A statistically significant reduction in pain scores was observed (p < .001).
• Patients reported an average pain improvement of 49.04%, with a mean duration of improvement of 123 days.

Conclusions:

• PNS therapy shows potential for improving patient-reported pain in various neuropathies.
• Further research is needed to confirm efficacy and assess complications of PNS device placement.
• PNS therapy represents a viable alternative for chronic pain management.