Four-Year Follow-Up from a Prospective, Multicenter Study of Percutaneous 60-Day Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract Introduction Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of healthcare expenditure and long-term disability associated with complex treatment challenges and the need for progressively invasive interventions. Percutaneous 60-day Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive n...

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Main Authors: Christopher A. Gilmore, Timothy R. Deer, Mehul J. Desai, Sean Li, Michael J. DePalma, Steven P. Cohen, Brandon D. Swan, Meredith J. McGee, Joseph W. Boggs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adis, Springer Healthcare 2025-04-01
Series:Pain and Therapy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-025-00737-3
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Summary:Abstract Introduction Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of healthcare expenditure and long-term disability associated with complex treatment challenges and the need for progressively invasive interventions. Percutaneous 60-day Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive neurostimulation treatment that has shown efficacy for chronic LBP, providing sustained improvements through 1 year of follow-up after treatment. The present work explores the long-term clinical outcomes of Percutaneous 60-day PNS for chronic LBP approximately 4 years after initial treatment. Methods Follow-up surveys were sent to participants from a prior prospective study who reported clinically meaningful reductions in pain, disability, or pain interference 12 months after Percutaneous 60-day PNS for LBP. The present long-term follow-up survey assessed current levels of LBP, disability, pain interference, and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Use of medications and other interventions for LBP treatment since completing Percutaneous 60-day PNS was also surveyed. Results In total, 23 participants returned completed long-term follow-up surveys. A majority of survey respondents (65%, n = 15/23) reported sustained, clinically meaningful (≥ 30%) relief of back pain compared with baseline an average of 4.7 years after PNS treatment was initiated. On average, these long-term responders reported clinically substantial (≥ 50%) reductions in pain (average 63% reduction), as well as clinically meaningful improvements in disability and quality of life. Furthermore, 70% (n = 16/23) of survey respondents avoided progression to more costly, invasive, and/or destructive LBP pain interventions (i.e., radiofrequency ablation, neurostimulation implant, or lumbar surgery). Conclusions Treatment with Percutaneous 60-day PNS provided clinically meaningful pain relief among a majority of surveyed participants an average of more than 4 years after the short-term treatment. These results demonstrate that Percutaneous 60-day PNS can provide durable outcomes that are often sustained for multiple (4+) years by patients with chronic axial LBP who subsequently avoid the need for more invasive treatment interventions. Clinical Trial Registration The Clinicaltrials.gov registration number for the initial study is NCT03179202.
ISSN:2193-8237
2193-651X