Developments in dorsal root ganglion stimulation to treat pain of neuropathic origin

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating and often treatment-resistant condition with significant personal and societal burden. As conventional pharmacologic options frequently fall short, there is a growing need for targeted, durable solutions.

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation has emerged as a promising neuromodulation technique offering anatomically targeted therapy for focal neuropathic syndromes. This review examines the anatomical underpinnings, mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, technological innovations, procedural techniques, and safety considerations associated with DRG stimulation, while highlighting current challenges and future directions in expanding its role within modern pain management. Literature was searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL from 2010 through 2024. This narrative review synthesizes the anatomic rationale, mechanistic hypotheses, clinical evidence by indication, procedural technique, safety considerations, and emerging technological developments in DRG stimulation.

DRG stimulation represents a significant advancement in interventional pain medicine. With its dermatomal targeting and clinical efficacy in anatomically discrete pain syndromes, it can be considered as a option in appropriately selected patients. Continued innovation, real-world outcome data, and improved access will be key to realizing its full therapeutic potential.