10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundDiabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), affecting ~50% of diabetes patients, imposes major burdens on quality of life and healthcare systems, while current therapies including pharmacotherapy and conventional spinal cord stimulation remain limited by insufficient efficacy and adverse...

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Main Authors: Chen Li, Chun-Hua Liu, Yi-Fan Li, Hui-Min Hu, Qing Shi, An-Xiang Liu, Wen-Hui Liu, Yi Zhang, Peng Mao, Bi-Fa Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1611970/full
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author Chen Li
Chen Li
Chun-Hua Liu
Chun-Hua Liu
Yi-Fan Li
Hui-Min Hu
Hui-Min Hu
Qing Shi
Qing Shi
An-Xiang Liu
An-Xiang Liu
Wen-Hui Liu
Wen-Hui Liu
Yi Zhang
Peng Mao
Bi-Fa Fan
author_facet Chen Li
Chen Li
Chun-Hua Liu
Chun-Hua Liu
Yi-Fan Li
Hui-Min Hu
Hui-Min Hu
Qing Shi
Qing Shi
An-Xiang Liu
An-Xiang Liu
Wen-Hui Liu
Wen-Hui Liu
Yi Zhang
Peng Mao
Bi-Fa Fan
author_sort Chen Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDiabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), affecting ~50% of diabetes patients, imposes major burdens on quality of life and healthcare systems, while current therapies including pharmacotherapy and conventional spinal cord stimulation remain limited by insufficient efficacy and adverse effects. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 10 kHz high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) compared to traditional low-frequency SCS (T-SCS) in alleviating DPNP.MethodsThis prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial will enroll 100 participants with DPNP. Patients aged 18–80 with chronic (≥6-month) lower limb pain will be randomly assigned to HF-SCS (10 kHz) vs. T-SCS (40–60 Hz). The primary outcome is the treatment efficacy rate, defined as ≥50% reduction in numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at 3 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include improvements in quality of life (Short Form 12), sleep quality (Athens Insomnia Scale), psychological status (Beck Depression Inventory), neuropathy severity (Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument), and microcirculatory parameters assessed via infrared thermography. Safety evaluations encompass adverse events, laboratory tests, and imaging findings.DiscussionThis study seeks to provide robust evidence on the superiority of HF-SCS in pain relief, functional improvement, and microcirculatory benefits, potentially establishing it as a preferred neuromodulation strategy for DPNP. Findings may advance clinical practice by addressing unmet needs in chronic pain management through targeted, mechanism-driven interventions.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/indexEN.html, identifier: ChiCTR2300078291.
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spelling doaj-art-ccd728cc79164b568ba351ccbb8dba062025-08-20T03:19:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-06-011610.3389/fneur.2025.1611970161197010 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trialChen Li0Chen Li1Chun-Hua Liu2Chun-Hua Liu3Yi-Fan Li4Hui-Min Hu5Hui-Min Hu6Qing Shi7Qing Shi8An-Xiang Liu9An-Xiang Liu10Wen-Hui Liu11Wen-Hui Liu12Yi Zhang13Peng Mao14Bi-Fa Fan15Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGraduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGraduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGraduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGraduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGraduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pain Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundDiabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), affecting ~50% of diabetes patients, imposes major burdens on quality of life and healthcare systems, while current therapies including pharmacotherapy and conventional spinal cord stimulation remain limited by insufficient efficacy and adverse effects. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 10 kHz high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) compared to traditional low-frequency SCS (T-SCS) in alleviating DPNP.MethodsThis prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial will enroll 100 participants with DPNP. Patients aged 18–80 with chronic (≥6-month) lower limb pain will be randomly assigned to HF-SCS (10 kHz) vs. T-SCS (40–60 Hz). The primary outcome is the treatment efficacy rate, defined as ≥50% reduction in numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at 3 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include improvements in quality of life (Short Form 12), sleep quality (Athens Insomnia Scale), psychological status (Beck Depression Inventory), neuropathy severity (Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument), and microcirculatory parameters assessed via infrared thermography. Safety evaluations encompass adverse events, laboratory tests, and imaging findings.DiscussionThis study seeks to provide robust evidence on the superiority of HF-SCS in pain relief, functional improvement, and microcirculatory benefits, potentially establishing it as a preferred neuromodulation strategy for DPNP. Findings may advance clinical practice by addressing unmet needs in chronic pain management through targeted, mechanism-driven interventions.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/indexEN.html, identifier: ChiCTR2300078291.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1611970/fulldiabetic peripheral neuropathic painhigh-frequency spinal cord stimulationrandomized controlled trialneuromodulationprotocol
spellingShingle Chen Li
Chen Li
Chun-Hua Liu
Chun-Hua Liu
Yi-Fan Li
Hui-Min Hu
Hui-Min Hu
Qing Shi
Qing Shi
An-Xiang Liu
An-Xiang Liu
Wen-Hui Liu
Wen-Hui Liu
Yi Zhang
Peng Mao
Bi-Fa Fan
10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
Frontiers in Neurology
diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
high-frequency spinal cord stimulation
randomized controlled trial
neuromodulation
protocol
title 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
title_full 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
title_fullStr 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
title_short 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation vs. traditional low-frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
title_sort 10 khz spinal cord stimulation vs traditional low frequency spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain study protocol for a multi center randomized controlled clinical trial
topic diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
high-frequency spinal cord stimulation
randomized controlled trial
neuromodulation
protocol
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1611970/full
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