Journal of Pain Research (Jan 2023)
Patient-Reported Satisfaction with Using a Rechargeable 10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation Device
Abstract
Jonathan M Hagedorn,1 Jordan Tate,2 Manish Bharara3 1iSpine Pain Physicians, Maple Grove, MN, USA; 2Southern Pain and Spine, Jasper, GA, USA; 3Clinical Affairs Department, Nevro Corp, Redwood City, CA, USACorrespondence: Jonathan M Hagedorn, iSpine Pain Physicians, Maple Grove, MN, USA, Tel +1 763-201-8191, Fax +1 763-201-8192, Email [email protected]: Chronic pain is a common clinical condition and is frequently treated with a variety of medications, but pharmacotherapy is oftentimes not the optimal long-term treatment option. Safe and effective long-term pain relief for trunk and limb pain is available using high-frequency spinal cord stimulation at 10 kHz (10 kHz SCS), which is delivered using a rechargeable implantable pulse generator (IPG). Although rechargeable devices have been shown to reduce patient risk and overall cost by eliminating the need for periodic surgeries to replace depleted non-rechargeable IPGs, there is little published evidence that rechargeable technology is practical and convenient for patients, especially in the context of 10 kHz SCS.Objective: This analysis of real-world patients implanted with 10 kHz SCS devices was undertaken using patient data from an industry-maintained database to investigate whether there was a substantial burden associated with rechargeable SCS and the degree of patient satisfaction or dissatisfaction with 10 kHz SCS.Results: This study included 10,391 men and women who were implanted with 10 kHz SCS devices to treat chronic pain of the trunk and/or limbs. They received stimulation for a median of 361 days (180– 1550 days), and 65.48% had previous spine surgery. In this patient sample, most patients were satisfied with the efficacy of 10 kHz SCS, including 77% who would repeat the procedure and 71% who would recommend it to other patients with similar pain. In regards to IPG recharging, 70% were satisfied or very satisfied and 19% were neutral, and a majority of patients recharged their device daily for 30 to 60 minutes.Conclusion: These results indicate most patients do not find IPG recharging inconvenient or burdensome. In addition, IPG recharging is not a barrier to the majority of patients benefitting from 10 kHz SCS for long-term pain relief.Keywords: SCS, spinal cord stimulation, satisfaction, real-world
