60-Day Peripheral Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Knee Pain: A Retrospective Analysis

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Neurology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Chronic knee pain is a growing concern, causing significant functional limitations and reduced quality of life.
• Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) offers an alternative approach by using electrical impulses to block pain signals.
• Conventional medical management (CMM) is the standard treatment for chronic knee pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 60-day peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) system for chronic knee pain.
• To compare the outcomes of PNS therapy with conventional medical management (CMM).
• To assess patient response defined as ≥ 50% pain relief.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective database and chart review of patients treated for chronic knee pain.
• Analysis of 18 patients receiving a 60-day percutaneous PNS therapy.
• Comparison with a control group of 12 patients receiving CMM.

Main Results:

• 94.4% of patients (17/18) undergoing PNS achieved ≥ 50% pain relief.
• The average pain relief among PNS responders was 82.3%.
• Only 33.3% of patients in the CMM group met the responder threshold.

Conclusions:

• A 60-day percutaneous PNS system is effective in managing chronic knee pain.
• PNS demonstrates superior efficacy compared to CMM for knee pain relief.
• Further research is warranted to explore long-term efficacy for various pain conditions.