Complications and Effects of Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark

Mattias Horan, Anne Helene Jacobsen, Christian Scherer, Christina Rosenlund, Helga Angela Gulisano, Morten Søe, Jens Christian Hedemann Sørensen, Kaare Meier, Morten Rune Blichfeldt-Eckhardt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
18 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation is a novel treatment of chronic neuropathic pain and has been shown to be efficacious across several case reports and randomized trials. However, long-term follow-up is limited, as are reports of complication rates. This study presents efficacy and complications for patients treated with DRG stimulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an observational, multicenter cohort study of all patients in Denmark implanted with FDA-approved DRG stimulation systems to treat chronic, neuropathic pain between 2014 and 2018. Follow-up period was one to three years.

RESULTS: Forty-three patients underwent trial DRG stimulation; 33 were subsequently fully implanted. Pain location: 58% lower extremity; 21% upper extremity; 21% thoracic/abdominal. At the end of the observation period, 58% of fully implanted patients were still implanted; 42% had fully functional systems. In these patients, average Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)-score of pain was reduced from 6.8 to 3.5 (p = 0.00049) and worst NRS-score was reduced from 8.6 to 6.0 (p = 0.0039) at 12 months follow-up. Pain Catastrophizing Score was reduced from 32 to 15 (p = 0.0039). Thirteen patients experienced complications related to defect leads (39% of implanted systems). In four patients (12%), lead removal left fragments in the root canal due to lead fracture, and three patients suffered permanent nerve damage during attempts to replace broken leads.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a significant, clinically relevant effect of DRG stimulation on neuropathic pain, but also demonstrates substantial problems with maintenance and revision of currently available systems. Consequently, treatment with equipment marketed specifically for DRG stimulation is currently paused in Denmark.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNeuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface
Volume24
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)729-737
Number of pages9
ISSN1094-7159
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Chronic pain
  • DRG stimulation
  • complications
  • efficacy
  • neuromodulation

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