Article
Are there any influence factors on the benefit of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in patients with chronic neuropathic leg pain?
Gibt es Faktoren, die den Erfolg der Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) bei Patienten mit chronischen Beinschmerzen beeinflussen?
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Published: | June 4, 2021 |
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Objective: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an established and effective minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of neuropathic leg pain. This retrospective study aims to explore factors that may influence the benefit of SCS in patients with chronic leg pain.
Methods: Between 2009 and 2018 40 patients with chronic neuropathic leg pain were treated with SCS. Charts were reviewed regarding personal data including sex, age, Body-Mass-Index, education, regular use of pc and smartphone, medical comorbidities, morbidity, ASA score, previous spinal surgery, time to last surgery, and presurgical pain medication. Furthermore pain intensity (NRS), test for neuropathic pain (DN4), generic health status (EQ-5D-5L), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Pain Disability Index (PDI), and Becks Depressions Inventary (BDI) were assessed for the pre- and postoperative status as well as 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and depended t-test.
Results: The 40 patients (19 females, 21 males) with a median age of 59 years (IQR25-75 54-68) had a significant improvement of NRS (p<0.001), DN4 (p<0.001), EQ-5D-5L (p<0.001), ODI (p<0.001), PDI (p<0.001) and BDI (p=0.003) one year after the SCS treatment compared to baseline.
Factors like sex, age, Body-Mass-Index, education, regular use of pc and smartphone, diagnoses, medical comorbidities, morbidity, ASA score, previous spinal surgery, time to last surgery, and presurgical pain medication had no influence on improvement of SCS treatment.
Conclusion: The treatment benefit of SCS is not affected by any factors. We conclude that SCS is a minimally invasive and effective surgical procedure, which can be applied in patients with chronic leg pain, regardless their personal characteristics and co-morbidity.