Factors in Surgical Placement and System Design to Reduce Pocket Awareness and Optimize the User Experience of Spinal...

Advancements in spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have enhanced patient outcomes, improved durability, and broadened the range of treatable pain conditions. Technological improvements in battery design have led to smaller implant size, while evolving societal guidelines have played a critical role in optimizing implant safety and quality. This review summarizes recent technological developments in SCS, the impact of such developments on patient satisfaction, and provides an overview of the major systems currently available. We also introduce and explore the emerging concept, "pocket awareness" - referring to a patient's conscious perception of their implant. Several modifiable factors involving physicians, patients, and manufacturers can influence this awareness, and by extension, patient satisfaction. While pain relief is certainly the primary objective, fostering a comfortable and positive relationship between the patient and their device is essential and merits further clinical attention.