SR | Spinal cord stimulation for low back pain provides no sustained clinical benefits compared to placebo

Summary: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a surgical procedure used to treat persistent low back pain by sending electrical signals via implanted electrodes into the spinal cord. The review included 13 studies (randomized controlled trials and cross‐over trials) with 699 participants.

Most of the studies were focused on short-term effects (less than one month), but the review found it is uncertain whether spinal cord stimulation can improve outcomes in the immediate term compared with placebo. At six months, SCS probably does not improve back or leg pain, function, or quality of life compared with placebo, with moderate certainty of evidence. Adverse events were also reported, including infections, neurological damage, and lead migration requiring repeated surgery.

The review concluded that the data does not support the use of SCS to manage low back pain outside a clinical trial. Current evidence suggests SCS probably does not have sustained clinical benefits that would outweigh the costs and risks of this surgical intervention.

Article: Spinal cord stimulation for low back pain – Cochrane Library

Summary: Spinal cord stimulation for low back pain – Cochrane Library

Commentary from the author on Twitter

Our Cochrane review on spinal cord stimulators for #backpain out today.

Bottom line:
-Mod certainty evidence of no benefit vs placebo in medium term
-Uncertain if benefit on pain in immediate term
-Adverse events (infection, re-operation) commonhttps://t.co/lNJQeN96Zs

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— Adrian Traeger (@adrian_traeger) March 7, 2023