title: Cost effectiveness of a novel 10 kHz high-frequency spinal cord stimulation system in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective method of relieving chronic intractable pain, and one of its key indications is failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). The objective of the current study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of 10 kHz high-frequency SCS (HF10 SCS) compared to conventional medical management (CMM), reoperation, and traditional nonrechargeable (TNR-SCS) and rechargeable SCS (TR-SCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A health economic model of SCS in the United Kingdom was reproduced in the perspective of the health care system to simulate costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) over 15 years. In the model, both a decision tree and the Markov model were used to describe the health outcomes of the evaluated therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HF10 SCS therapy showed a favorable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £3,153 per QALY gained as compared to CMM and established dominance (less costly, more QALYs) compared to TNR-SCS (£8,802 per QALY vs. CMM) and TR-SCS (£5,101 per QALY vs. CMM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first analysis of the cost effectiveness of HF10 SCS suggests that it is more cost effective and provides a greater number of QALYs than both TNR-SCS and TR-SCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Annemans
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, AZ Nikolaas, St. Niklaas, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Van Buyten
authors.affiliation: The Pain Management and Neuromodulation Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: The Pain Management and Neuromodulation Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Kaisy
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D016527:Drug Costs; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D055111:Failed Back Surgery Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000191:economics; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D062187:Spinal Cord Stimulation / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom