Long-Term Reduction of Sacroiliac Joint Pain With Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2017 Oct 1;13(5):634-639. doi: 10.1093/ons/opx017.

Abstract

Background: We recently demonstrated that 86% of the patients treated with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for therapy-refractory sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain were satisfied with the result after 1 year of treatment.

Objective: To investigate the long-term (up to 4 years) response rate of this novel treatment.

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients with therapy-refractory SIJ pain were treated with PNS and followed for 4 years in 3 patients, 3 years in 6 patients, and 2 years in 1 patient. Quality of life, pain, and patient satisfaction were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and International Patient Satisfaction Index.

Results: Patients reported a pain reduction from 8.8 to 1.6 (VAS) at 1 year ( P < .001), and 13 of 14 patients (92.9%) rated the therapy as effective (International Patient Satisfaction Index score ≤ 2). At 2 years, average pain score was 1.9 ( P < .001), and 9 of 10 patients (90.0%) considered the treatment a success. At 3 years, 8 of 9 patients (88.9%) were satisfied with the treatment results, reporting an average VAS of 2.0 ( P < .005). At 4 years, 2 of 3 patients were satisfied with the treatment results.

Conclusion: We have shown for the first time that PNS is a successful long-term therapy for SIJ pain.

Keywords: Low back pain; Neuromodulation; Peripheral nerve stimulation; Sacral nerve stimulation; Sacroiliac joint dysfunction; Sacroiliac joint pain.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthralgia / diagnostic imaging
  • Arthralgia / therapy*
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiology*
  • Sacroiliac Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Sacroiliac Joint / physiopathology*
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome*
  • Visual Analog Scale