Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
Preparation of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Electrodes for Chronic Implantation in Rats
Published on: July 14, 2020
Real-world long-term outcomes of peripheral nerve stimulation: a prospective observational study
Darwin Luna1, Gabrielle Hettie1, Luke Pirrotta1
1Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Aim:
We aimed to evaluate real-world outcomes of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) used to treat chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) at a tertiary pain management center.
Methods:
Thirty adults who underwent PNS for CNP between June 2015 and September 2021 completed pain and psychosocial assessments in the 6 months before, and 2-3 years after PNS treatment. Pain intensity was measured using the NIH Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Intensity Short From (3A). Psychosocial outcomes including depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance were also measured.
Results:
Prior to receiving PNS, long-term responders reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms compared to non-responders (PROMIS depression t-score 50.3 [10.7] vs 57.9 [8.9]; p-value = 0.05). Eleven participants (36.7%) reported long-term treatment response. There was a significantly greater improvement in pain intensity among responders compared to non-responders who reported increased pain (PROMIS Pain Intensity score -9.0 [-4.2] vs. +3.1[+3.2]; p-value < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Patients report clinically meaningful long-term pain relief after receiving PNS through both 60-day and permanent implant systems, with significant reductions in pain intensity observed in long-term responders. Long-term responders reported fewer depressive symptoms compared to non-responders prior to receiving therapy, emphasizing the importance of psychological screening and psychological optimization prior to receiving PNS.
