Dorsal Column Stimulation vs. Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Confined to the Knee: Patients' Preference Following the Trial Period.
Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) confined to the knee are often therapy resistant. Neurostimulation is an accepted treatment for CRPS. Although results with dorsal column (DC) stimulation in patients with CRPS confined to the knee are often disappointing, the availability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation may provide new opportunities for this complaint. Therefore, this study explores patients' preference for DC stimulation vs. DRG stimulation in treating chronic pain due to CRPS confined to the knee.



A prospective, observational crossover cohort study was conducted comparing 2 methods of neurostimulation, in randomized order, in patients with CRPS confined to the knee. After receiving DC and DRG stimulation during a trial period of 16 days, patients were asked which of the 2 methods they preferred. Patients with a successful trial period with one or both stimulation methods received a fully implantable system.



Twelve patients were included. After finishing the trial period, 10 patients (83.3%) preferred DRG stimulation and 2 (16.7%) preferred DC stimulation (P = 0.04).



To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare these 2 neurostimulation methods in patients with CRPS confined to the knee. Results show that the probability of the preference for either neurostimulation treatment significantly deviates from chance in favor of DRG stimulation.
Center for Pain Medicine, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Catelijne M
CM
van Bussel
Center for Pain Medicine, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Dirk L
DL
Stronks
Center for Pain Medicine, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Frank J P M
FJPM
Huygen
D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062187:Spinal Cord Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
complex regional pain syndrome; dorsal column stimulation; dorsal root ganglion stimulation; knee; patients’ preference