Burst Spinal Cord Stimulation: Introduction to a New Age in Neuromodulation
Spinal cord neuromodulation has been a long-established treatment option for those suffering from various types of chronic pain. This minimally invasive procedure provides the potential for long-term pain relief, reducing the burden of other types of therapy, such as medications. As with any medical treatment, some patients do not tolerate or respond well to the therapy. This fact has led to recent developments in the technology to improve the therapeutic efficacy. More specifically, in 2010, Dr. Dirk De Ritter described what is known as burst waveforms, which may result in better outcomes than traditional tonic stimulation, which is most commonly used in clinically. An understanding of the mechanism of neuromodulation and how these waveforms disrupt different targets in the pain pathway therefore represents a significant advancement in the world of interventional pain medicine. This evolution of treatment may improve the lives of those suffering from lifelong pain conditions and chronic pain states.