Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Knee Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Chronic knee pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) affects a subset of patients that is refractory to pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been used in patients with chronic knee pain following TKA and has shown some efficacy. Methods: Comprehensive search of Ovid Medline, Elsevier Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Scopus, SPORTDiscus with Full Text and the Web of Science platform. From inception to August 2022, for studies using PNS to treat chronic knee pain following TKA. Primary outcomes included pain scores, functional status and medication usage. Results: Nine studies were extrapolated with all demonstrating effectiveness of PNS for patients with chronic knee pain following TKA. Discussion: PNS for chronic knee pain following TKA has been shown to be an efficacious treatment modality. The level of evidence is low and more research is needed to assess its safety and effectiveness.

Supplementary data

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank T Brigham, MLIS, from the Mayo Clinic Libraries in Jacksonville, FL, for peer review of the Medline database search strategy.

Financial disclosure

TL Doshi has received research support from NIH/NIAMS/NINDS (UHG3AR077360 and K24AR081143) and honoraria from Guidepoint Global, Remedy Health Media, and the American Heart Association. 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.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Writing disclosure

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

Additional information

Funding

TL Doshi has received research support from NIH/NIAMS/NINDS (UHG3AR077360 and K24AR081143) and honoraria from Guidepoint Global, Remedy Health Media, and the American Heart Association. 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.