Peripheral Stimulation of the Saphenous and Superior Lateral Genicular Nerves for Chronic Knee Pain

Chronic knee pain continues to cause increasing levels of functional deficits, mobility issues, and decreased quality of life in the United States. Initial treatment for knee pain consists of physical therapy, weight loss, medication management, injections, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Definitive treatment usually requires surgical management. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been effective in the treatment of a variety of chronic pain conditions including the treatment of postoperative pain related to knee surgery. We describe the case of a patient who refused operative management as well as RFA of the genicular nerves and obtained significant pain relief from PNS of the superior lateral genicular nerve and the saphenous nerve for severe knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.