127 Durable Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy With 10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 25% of people with diabetes experience painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), but conventional medical management (CMM) is ineffective for many patients. We previously presented partial study results showing that high-frequency (10 kHz) spinal cord stimulation (SCS) provides substantial symptom relief. Here we report full study results through 24-month (24M) follow-up. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter RCT to evaluate 10 kHz SCS in PDN patients. Key study inclusion criteria were: PDN symptoms = 12M refractory to medications, lower limb pain intensity = 5cm (0-10 cm visual analog scale [VAS]), and hemoglobin A1c = 10%. Patients (n = 216) were randomized 1:1 to 10 kHz SCS plus CMM or CMM alone, with optional treatment crossover at 6M. RESULTS: Patients randomized to 10 kHz SCS experienced significantly greater pain relief at 6M than those treated with CMM alone (p < 0.001). For all patients who received 10 kHz SCS, at 24M post-implantation the average pain relief was 80% from pre-implantation (p < 0.001), and the treatment responder rate was 90%. Clinician-assessed sensory function showed significant improvements with 10 kHz SCS. At 6M, 59% of patients treated with 10 kHz SCS had sensory improvement versus 9% of those treated with CMM alone (p < 0.001). At 24M, 10 kHz SCS improved sensory function for 65% of patients. Patients receiving 10 kHz SCS also experienced significant improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL, p < 0.001). At 24M, the mean HRQoL improvement was 2.9-4.8 times the minimum clinically important difference for patients with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that 10 kHz SCS provides significant, durable reductions in pain and improvements in sensory function and HRQoL. Sensory function improvements support the unique disease-modifying potential of 10 kHz SCS.