Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Acute Vertebral Compression Fracture Pain: A Case Report.

Background: Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) pain can be debilitating, affecting daily activities and quality of life. This case presentation shows the utility of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for acute pain relief in the setting of an acute VCF.

Case report: This case is of an 84-year-old woman with osteoporosis and an acute T9 compression fracture reporting significant pain relief with 60-day PNS when medications and modalities failed to relieve pain. PNS is utilized for acute and chronic nerve pain with an expanding role for acute postoperative pain and chronic nociceptive, nociplastic, and neuropathic pain. This case report highlights the expanding role of PNS for managing acute pain.

Conclusions: This novel approach to addressing acute insufficiency fracture pain highlights a promising alternative to inadequately relieved acute pain with conventional medication management or augmentation limitations due to patient comorbidities.