Cannabinoids and spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of failed back surgery syndrome refractory pain

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of patients, DN4 score, and BPI’s NRS score before (baseline) and after (final) treatment with THC/CBD combination for 12 consecutive months

Patient’s characteristics and questionnaires
Sex (M/F)	6/5
Age range (years)	49–77
Median age (years)	61.18±10.26
DN4 score	8.90±1.37
BPI baseline NRS score (no therapy, only SCS)	8.15±0.98
BPI final NRS score (SCS and cannabinoid agonists)	4.72±0.9a

Note:

a P<0.0001 vs BPI baseline NRS score. Data presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

Abbreviations: DN4, Douleur Neuropathique 4; BPI, Brief Pain Inventory; NRS, numeric rating scale; SCS, spinal cord stimulation; THC, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; CBD, cannabidiol.

Table 2 Brief Pain Inventory in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) among eleven patients treated with spinal cord stimulation alone, before (baseline) and after (final) 12 months, and treatment with THC/CBD, (N=11).

Brief Pain Inventory items	Baseline values	Final values	Statistics
General activities	6.72±0.90	3.63±0.67	P<0.001
Mood	5.54±0.52	3.63±0.50	P<0.001
Walking abilities	6.45±0.82	3.27±0.78	P<0.001
Normal work	5.90±0.94	3.27±0.46	P<0.001
Relations with other people	6.09±1.04	3.09±0.94	P<0.001
Sleep	6.09±1.44	3.90±1.30	P<0.01
Enjoyment of life	6.18±0.87	3.54±1.03	P<0.001

Note: Data shown as mean ± SD.

Abbreviations: THC, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; CBD, cannabidiol.

Table 3 Adverse events related to treatments

Adverse events	Cases (N)
Drowsiness	4
Attention/concentration disorders	3
Dry mouth	2
Headache	2
Nausea/vomiting	2
Apathy	1
Puffy lips	1
Palpitations	1
Dizziness	1
Subjective sense of facial dysmorphism	1
Mood disorders	1
Forgetfulness	1
Increased urinary retention	1