Health-Care Utilization and Outcomes with 10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Refractory Pain

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a common condition associated with decreased quality of life and increased health-care costs. Opioid analgesics are routinely used to treat chronic pain despite limited evidence of long-term efficacy. Spinal cord stimulation at a frequency of 10 kilohertz (10kHz-SCS) has been shown to be effective for treating chronic pain. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 10kHz-SCS on patients’ pain intensity, volume of pain interventions, and opioid intake in a real-world setting. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a retrospective review of patient data. SETTING: The study was conducted at a single, community-based clinic. METHODS: Outcomes including pain relief, quality of life, opioid intake, and rate of health-care usage were evaluated using data from patients who were implanted with a 10kHz-SCS device to treat chronic pain. These outcomes were then compared for the pre- and post-implant periods. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients with a mean follow-up duration of 15.6 ± 6.2 months were included in this analysis. Mean pain relief was 73 ± 22% and 89% were responders at the final follow-up visit. The rate of medical interventions fell from 3.48±3.05 per year before starting 10kHz-SCS to 0.49±1.16 per year afterward (P < 0.001). Of 30 patients with available opioid consumption data, 89% maintained or decreased their intake after implant. CONCLUSION: Retrospective data from a single center, with minimal exclusion criteria shows clinically significant pain relief with 10kHz-SCS, accompanied by significant indirect benefits including stable or reduced opioid use and reduced interventional procedures.