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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Implantation and Control of Wireless, Battery-free Systems for Peripheral Nerve Interfacing
Published on: October 20, 2021
Needle infiltration assisted explantation technique for peripheral nerve stimulator leads
Sam Nia1, Alexandra Adler2, Pascal Scemama3
1Department of Neurosciences, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY 11554, United States.
Introduction:
Peripheral nerve stimulation is a neuromodulation modality that is increasing used to treat chronic pain. The permanent peripheral nerve stimulator systems, while easy to implant, are designed to stay in place and scar at the implantation site. There is a paucity of literature on explantation techniques for peripheral nerve stimulators.
Methods:
In this report, we describe a needle infiltration assisted technique for lead explantation. This novel technique is minimally invasive, cost-effective, and utilizes a combination of fluoroscopy and ultrasound imaging. We describe the successful use of this technique in 3 cases without any adverse events.
Conclusion:
There are many situations which might require a permanent peripheral nerve stimulator to be explanted such as infection, lead erosion, patient request, or need for the patient to undergo magnetic resonance imaging. In these scenarios, we propose a novel needle infiltration assisted technique of explantation that is safe, effective, and easy to replicate.
