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Case Reports
. 2015 Feb;94(2):146-53.
doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000173.

Fully implantable peripheral nerve stimulation for the treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain: a case report

Vu Q C Nguyen  1 , William C Bock, Christine C Groves, Marybeth Whitney, Maria E Bennett, Tina E Lechman, Robert Strother, Julie H Grill, Kathryn W Stager, John Chae
Affiliations
Case Reports

Fully implantable peripheral nerve stimulation for the treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain: a case report

Vu Q C Nguyen et al. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

This case report describes the first participant treated with a fully implantable, single-lead peripheral nerve stimulation system for refractory hemiplegic shoulder pain. During the 6-wk trial stage, a temporary lead was placed percutaneously near the terminal branches of the axillary nerve to the deltoid. The primary outcome measure was the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form Question 3, a 0-10 pain numeric rating scale. The participant experienced 75% pain reduction and proceeded to the implantation stage, where he received a single-lead, implantable pulse generator. After 3 wks, the participant became pain-free. However, 7 wks after implantation, the system was turned off because of an unrelated acute medical illness. Hemiplegic shoulder pain reemerged with a Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form Question 3 score of 9. After 11 wks of recovery, peripheral nerve stimulation was reinitiated and the participant became pain-free through the 9-mo follow-up. At 12 mos, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form Question 3 score was 1. This case report demonstrates the feasibility of a single-lead, fully implantable peripheral nerve stimulation system for refractory hemiplegic shoulder pain.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Radiograph of IPG and lead.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic showing the relative positions of IPG and lead.
Figure 3
Figure 3
BPI-3 scores during trial and implant-stages.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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