FV 22 Adverse events requiring surgical intervention during long-term Spinal Cord Stimulation for chronic pain syndromes_a retrospective single-center analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND Opioid misuse in the USA is an epidemic. Utilization of neuromodulation for refractory chronic pain may reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality, and associated economic costs. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on opioid dose reduction. METHODS The IBM MarketScan® database was retrospectively queried for all US patients with a chronic pain diagnosis undergoing SCS between 2010 and 2015. Opioid usage before and after the procedure was quantified as morphine milligram equivalents (MME). RESULTS A total of 8497 adult patients undergoing SCS were included. Within 1 yr of the procedure, 60.4% had some reduction in their opioid use, 34.2% moved to a clinically important lower dosage group, and 17.0% weaned off opioids entirely. The proportion of patients who completely weaned off opioids increased with decreasing preprocedure dose, ranging from 5.1% in the >90 MME group to 34.2% in the ≤20 MME group. The following variables were associated with reduced odds of weaning off opioids post procedure: long-term opioid use (odds ratio [OR]: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.21-0.30; P < .001), use of other pain medications (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65-0.87; P < .001), and obesity (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60-0.94; P = .01). CONCLUSION Patients undergoing SCS were able to reduce opioid usage. Given the potential to reduce the risks of long-term opioid therapy, this study lays the groundwork for efforts that may ultimately push stakeholders to reduce payment and policy barriers to SCS as part of an evidence-based, patient-centered approach to nonopioid solutions for chronic pain.

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Safety and efficacy of spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain: a 20-year literature review

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/spi.2004.100.3.0254 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 254-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 120

Author(s):

Tracy Cameron

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Literature Review ◽

Spinal Cord Stimulation ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

Content Type ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

Fine Print

Object. The purpose of this report was to examine the available literature to determine the safety and efficacy of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of chronic pain of the trunk and limbs. Methods. The author identified 68 studies that fulfilled the efficacy inclusion/exclusion criteria, grouped on the basis of pain indication, with an overall population of 3679 patients. Fifty-one studies fulfilled all safety inclusion/exclusion criteria. Based on the literature review, the author found that SCS had a positive, symptomatic, long-term effect in cases of refractory angina pain, severe ischemic limb pain secondary to peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathic pain, and chronic low-back pain, and that, in general, SCS was a safe and effective treatment for a variety of chronic neuropathic conditions. Conclusions. Despite the positive findings, there is an urgent need for randomized, controlled, long-term studies on the efficacy of SCS involving larger patient sample sizes.

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Complications of spinal cord stimulation, suggestions to improve outcome, and financial impact

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/spi.2006.5.3.191 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 191-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Krishna Kumar ◽

Jefferson R. Wilson ◽

Rod S. Taylor ◽

Shivani Gupta

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Success Rate ◽

Spinal Cord Stimulation ◽

Time Course ◽

Healthcare Resource ◽

Unit Cost ◽

Healthcare Budget ◽

The Cost

Object The long-term success of spinal cord stimulation is impeded by the high incidence of adverse events. The cost of complications to the healthcare budget is influenced by the time course needed to reverse the effect, and by the type of corrective measures required. Understanding the mechanism of complications and reducing them can improve the overall success rate and the cost factor. Methods The authors performed a retrospective analysis of data obtained in 160 patients treated during a 10-year period. For each category of complication, the level of healthcare resource use was assessed for each case and a unit cost was applied. The total cost of each complication was determined by summing across healthcare resource headings. All cost calculations were performed in Canadian dollars at 2005 prices. To understand the mechanics of various hardware-related complications and how to avoid them, the authors have utilized the results of bench tests conducted at Medtronic, Inc. Fifty-one adverse events occurred in 42 of the 160 patients. The complications were classified as either hardware related (39 events) or biological (12 events). The mean cost of complications during the 10-year study period was $7092 (range $130–$22,406). Conclusions Complications not only disrupt the effect of pain control but also pose an added expense to the already high cost of therapy. It is possible to reduce the complication rate, and thus improve the long-term success rate, by following the suggestions made in this paper, which are supported by the biomechanics of the human body and the implanted material.

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