Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation to Treat Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Case Report

A A Pract. 2023 Nov 15;17(11):e01718. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001718. eCollection 2023 Nov 1.

Abstract

A 67-year-old man presented with severe 9 of 10 intractable pain of the left shoulder joint after arthroplasty and revision surgeries, with associated weakness, atrophy, and limited range of motion in all directions. Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) at the left C4, C5, and C6 levels was used after failed conservative and interventional measures, resulting in significant improvement in pain, function, and quality of life measures through 6 months postimplantation. Larger studies should examine if DRG-S is effective in treating chronic arthritic joint pain as well as chronic postsurgical pain of the shoulder that is not predominantly neuropathic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthroplasty
  • Ganglia, Spinal*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pain, Intractable*
  • Quality of Life
  • Shoulder Pain / therapy