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Dorsal root ganglion stimulation device explantation: A multicenter pooled data analysis

  • Kenneth B. Chapman*
  • , Ajax Yang
  • , Alon Y. Mogilner
  • , Nataniel Mandelberg
  • , Kiran V. Patel
  • , Timothy Lubenow
  • , Timothy Deer
  • , Jan Willem Kallewaard
  • , Noud van Helmond
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • The Spine & Pain Institute of New York
  • New York University
  • Northwell Health System
  • Rush University
  • The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias
  • Rijnstate Hospital
  • Cooper University Health Care

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Introduction: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) is a relatively new neuromodulation modality. Therefore, data on long-term device explantation rates is limited. This investigation aimed to assess DRG-S device explantation rates at long-term follow-up. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed individuals implanted with DRG-S in four pain centers from different continuous periods between April 2016 to September 2020. We recorded patient demographics, diagnoses, duration to explantation or last follow-up, treatment complications, and failure etiologies. Results: A total of 249 patients with 756 leads and a mean 27-month follow-up were included. The mean age was 55 ± 15 years; 148 (63%) were female. Leading diagnoses were CRPS (n = 106, 43%), followed by FBSS (n = 64, 26%), and non-surgical low back pain (n = 23, 9%). The explantation rate was ~2% per year (n = 10 total). At explantation, the average time from implantation was 13 ± 10 months. Six patients were explanted for inadequate pain relief. Two patients were explanted due to device-related complications. One patient was explanted secondary to infection and subsequently reimplanted. Five explanted patients experienced a therapy-related complication before eventual explantation: one transient post-procedural neuritis and pocket site pain, one lead fracture, two lead migrations, and one experienced a fracture, a migration, and pocket site pain. Discussion: This large retrospective study of DRG-S revealed a low therapy-termination rate. The rate of infection leading to explantation was objectively very low at 0.4%. The leading cause of explantation was inadequate pain relief. Explanted patients often had a therapy-related complication. Therefore, minimizing adverse treatment events may reduce ultimate explantation rates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)522-531
Number of pages10
JournalPain practice
Volume22
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

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