AUTHOR=Mullins Graeme Sampson , Burns Joanna Jane , Schneider Andre Perillier , El Helou Antonios 

TITLE=Spinal Cord Stimulation as an Alternative to Opioid for Axial Neck and Back Pain: A Case Series

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pain Research

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2022.847504

DOI=10.3389/fpain.2022.847504

ISSN=2673-561X

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Spinal cord stimulation is emerging as a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS). 
Methods: We describe a case series of 25 individuals with PSPS who underwent implantation of a spinal cord stimulator device between 2017 and 2021. 
Results: There was a significant reduction in the mean visual analogue scale pain scores in the immediate post-operative phase 8.61 vs. 2.30, p < 0.001). There were twelve patients with pre-operative opioid consumption and 75% showed reduction of use with a significantly lower average daily dose (66.8 vs. 26.9 meq/D, p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the Oswestry disability index at post-operative follow-up visits (p<0.001). There were no major perioperative or long-term complications from the procedure in follow-up.
Conclusion: Analysis of this cohort suggests successful long-term treatment of a diverse set of patients with PSPS with SCS with meaningful improvement in quality of life and reduction in opioid consumption.