Functional outcomes and healthcare utilization trends in postsurgical and nonsurgical patients following high-frequency (10 kHz) spinal cord stimulation therapy

Introduction: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the leading cause of disability in the United States and is associated with a steadily increasing burden of healthcare expenditures. Given this trend, it is essential to evaluate interventions aimed at reducing disability and optimizing healthcare utilization (HCU) in affected populations. This study investigates the impact of prior spinal surgery on functional outcomes and HCU patterns following high-frequency (10 kHz) spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 160 subjects who underwent implantation of a 10 kHz SCS device. Participants were divided into surgical and non-surgical cohorts for comparative analysis. Pain relief was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), while disability levels were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). HCU was examined through the frequency of emergency department (ED) visits, outpatient visits for interventional pain procedures, and opioid consumption measured in morphine milliequivalents (MME).

Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the surgical and non-surgical groups regarding pain relief and disability outcomes. Additionally, ED visits and outpatient visits for interventional pain procedures did not show significant differences between the two cohorts.

Discussion: This study represents the first comparative analysis of pain, disability, and HCU trends between surgical and non-surgical populations following 10 kHz SCS therapy. The results suggest that prior spinal surgery may not substantially affect the efficacy of 10 kHz SCS therapy in terms of pain relief, disability reduction, or HCU patterns.