title: Prospective analysis of the trial period for spinal cord stimulation treatment for chronic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine patient preferences regarding the duration of trial period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients were given a trial of spinal cord stimulation. They were questioned daily if they would like to proceed to a permanent implant. Three consecutive affirmative answers implied a successful trial; three negative replies implied a failed trial. Patients rated daily the pain from the surgery, original pain, satisfaction with the stimulator, and the duration of the use of the stimulator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trial duration varied from 3 to 15 days. Patients with a failed trial took longer to make a decision and also experienced prolonged surgical pain. The majority of patients with a successful trial experienced more than 50% pain reduction. The rate of infection was 7.5%, which has reduced to 2.8% after changing the dressing protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, all patients could make a decision in 15 days, with successful trials requiring a shorter duration. The conversion rate was similar to rates in literature despite patients making a decision without physician input.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK. cmahindra@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mahindra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chincholkar
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eldabe
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strachan
authors.forename: Morag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: Fay
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulve
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ness
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome