Extraforaminal Spinal Nerve Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain: Description of the New Approach, Safety, and Long-term Efficacy.

Background: Managing focal neuropathic pain poses significant challenges. Neuromodulation therapies, particularly dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S), have shown promise in many cases. However, frequent issues with system durability, necessitating revisions, and the complexity of these revisions due to associated difficulties and the limitations in complex cases with difficult access to the epidural space or foramen have prompted practitioners to seek more durable and long-lasting alternatives. Spinal nerve stimulation through an extraforaminal approach offers a promising solution for patients who have exhausted conventional pain therapies or are unsuitable candidates for DRG-S.

Materials and methods: This is a single-center, retrospective data analysis in 73 patients with neuropathic pain who underwent spinal nerve stimulation (SNS) using our facility's novel extraforaminal approach from January 2019 to December 2024. The collected data included patient-reported outcomes. We also reviewed any adverse events, complications, or procedure-related issues.

Results: Initially, extraforaminal SNS was primarily considered for patients with a history of failed DRG-S. Since 2021, however, this approach has become the primary treatment for focal neuropathic pain at our institution. Of the 73 patients trialed, 75% achieved >50% pain relief, causing permanent implantation in 53 patients. Patient satisfaction remained high, with 38 of 42 patients currently implanted reporting satisfaction in a 2024 follow-up survey. Remarkably, >80% of patients implanted in 2019 and 2020 reported sustained satisfaction five and four years after implantation, respectively. No intraoperative complications or serious adverse events were documented during the trial or after implantation, surgical revisions, or explantation.

Conclusion: The extraforaminal SNS approach has shown safety and durability as a treatment for patients with refractory neuropathic pain. With long-term patient satisfaction and a favorable safety profile, it offers a promising alternative to traditional neuromodulation techniques, particularly in complex cases in which DRG-S may be challenging or contraindicated.