Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Acute Postoperative Pain

Abstract

Peripheral nerve stimulation or peripheral neuromodulation is a modality utilized for decades to manage chronic pain. There have been recent studies published describing its use in managing acute surgical pain for orthopedic surgery. The postoperative acute pain associated with several types of surgeries often outlasts the analgesia duration provided by single and continuous peripheral nerve blocks. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation has the potential to provide much longer analgesia for acute pain while avoiding some limitations associated with local anesthetic-based peripheral nerve blocks. We summarize the current devices used in published studies to demonstrate feasibility with a focus on acute pain control.

Keywords::

• acute pain
• analgesia
• neuromodulation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

RA Gabriel’s institution has received funding and product for his research from Myoscience and Epimed; infusion pump manufacturer Infutronics; perineural catheter manufacturer Ferrosan Medical; and a manufacturer of a PNS device, SPR Therapeutics. MW Swisher’s institution has received funding and product for his research from Myoscience and Epimed; infusion pump manufacturer Infutronics; perineural catheter manufacturer Ferrosan Medical; and a manufacturer of a PNS device, SPR Therapeutics. B Ilfeld’s institution has received funding and product for his research from Myoscience and Epimed; infusion pump manufacturer Infutronics; perineural catheter manufacturer Ferrosan Medical; a manufacturer of a PNS device, SPR Therapeutics; and manufacturers of long-acting bupivacaine formulations, Pacira Pharmaceuticals and Heron Pharmaceuticals. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

RA Gabriel’s institution has received funding and product for his research from Myoscience and Epimed; infusion pump manufacturer Infutronics; perineural catheter manufacturer Ferrosan Medical; and a manufacturer of a PNS device, SPR Therapeutics. MW Swisher’s institution has received funding and product for his research from Myoscience and Epimed; infusion pump manufacturer Infutronics; perineural catheter manufacturer Ferrosan Medical; and a manufacturer of a PNS device, SPR Therapeutics. B Ilfeld’s institution has received funding and product for his research from Myoscience and Epimed; infusion pump manufacturer Infutronics; perineural catheter manufacturer Ferrosan Medical; a manufacturer of a PNS device, SPR Therapeutics; and manufacturers of long-acting bupivacaine formulations, Pacira Pharmaceuticals and Heron Pharmaceuticals. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.