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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2016; 77(01): 063-067
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1547362
Consensus Statement
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Subcutaneous Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Back Pain: Patient Selection and Technical Aspects

Matthias Winkelmueller   *
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Diakonie Hospital Friederikenstift, Hannover, Germany
,
Malgorzata Anna Kolodziej   *
2   Department of Neurosurgery, UKGM University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
,
Wolfgang Welke
3   Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Unit, Hospital Iserlohn, Iserlohn, Germany
,
Athanasios Koulousakis
4   Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Ramon Martinez
5   Department of Neurosurgery, UMG University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

07 July 2014

14 November 2014

Publication Date:
27 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

A wide variety of therapeutic options are available for the treatment of chronic back pain, a very common condition in Western countries with high related social and economic costs. Nevertheless, it is not always possible to achieve adequate long-term pain relief in spite of intensive analgesic therapies. Subcutaneous peripheral nerve field stimulation (sPNFS) is a newly approved neuromodulative treatment for back pain. In previously reported case series, it has provided encouraging results on long-term pain relief, improvement in quality of life, and a reduced need for analgesic drugs. Although the surgical technique is simple, there is neither consensus for patient management nor a standardized procedure for the implantation procedure. After consideration of our personal experience and the published literature, a basic recommendation has now been developed. This represents the first step toward planning prospective studies and standardization of this treatment and will permit comparison of this technique and the results with sPNFS.

Keywords

peripheral nerve - stimulation - chronic - back - pain

* Both the authors contributed equally to this article.


 

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