Incidence and Predictors of Inadvertent Dural Puncture After Percutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Retrospective Database Analysis

Prophylactic Fibrin Glue Application for Immediate Management of Dural Puncture during Spinal Cord Stimulation Lead Placement: a Simple and Effective Technique

BACKGROUND

Accidental dural puncture during epidural lead insertion for Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a recognized surgical complication that may lead to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and subsequent postdural puncture headache (PDPH). The optimal technical approach to prevent CSF leakage remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate a simple and efficient intraoperative technique for managing accidental dural puncture during SCS lead placement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records and imaging studies of all patients who underwent SCS procedures between January 2020 and April 2024. Signs or symptoms associated with dural puncture were recorded, including subcutaneous fluid collections, pseudomeningocele formation, PDPH, wound infection, and meningitis.

RESULTS

Among 107 patients who underwent SCS implantation, involving a total of 194 lead insertions, 4 cases (3.7%) of intraoperative CSF leakage due to iatrogenic dural puncture were identified. Each case was managed by injecting fibrin glue through the introducer needle into the epidural space, directly over the dural lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic application of fibrin glue following dural puncture appears to be highly effective in sealing the damage and preventing CSF leakage. This technique offers a valuable intraoperative solution for surgeons to immediately address dural injuries during SCS lead placement, potentially minimizing postoperative complications and improving patient outcomes.

A case series of new-onset headache and neurological issues after thoracolumbar spinal cord stimulators

Although spinal cord stimulator (SCS) therapy is generally used safely to treat chronic neuropathic pain conditions, this document highlights the less reported complication of unusual neurological problems including headaches. These developed temporally after the initiation of SCS therapy despite initial positive response to pain. The mechanisms might include activation of trigeminal receptors and neuroplasticity after SCS. We present a series of four cases where patients developed new neurological symptoms like headaches, facial twitching, and tinnitus, that were related to SCS activation. Despite adjustments to the SCS settings and extensive evaluations, these symptoms persisted in all cases, leading to the decision to explant SCS which was otherwise helping pain.

Complications of Spinal Cord Stimulators-A Comprehensive Review Article

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Spinal cord stimulation has been increasing in influence as an option to regulate pain, especially in the chronic pain patient population. However, even with the numerous changes made to this technology since its inception, it is still prone to various complications such as hardware issues, neurological injury/epidural hematoma, infections, and other biological concerns. The purpose of this article is to thoroughly review and evaluate literature pertaining to the complications associated with percutaneous spinal cord stimulation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Lead migration is generally the most common complication of percutaneous spinal cord stimulation; however, recent utilization of various anchoring techniques has been discussed and experienced clinical success in decreasing the prevalence of lead migration and lead fractures. With newer high-frequency systems gaining traction to improve pain management and decrease complications as compared to traditional systems, rechargeable implantable pulse generators have been the preferred power source. However, recent findings may suggest that these rechargeable implantable pulse generators do not significantly increase battery life as much as was proposed. Intraoperative neuromonitoring has seen success in mitigating neurological injury postoperatively and may see more usage in the future through more testing. Though the occurrence of infection and biological complications, including dural puncture and skin erosion, has been less frequent over time, they should still be treated in accordance with established protocols. While many complications can arise following percutaneous spinal cord stimulator implantation, the procedure is less invasive than open implantation and has seen largely positive patient feedback. Hardware complications, the more common issues that can occur, rarely indicate a serious risk and can generally be remedied through reoperation. However, less common cases such as neurological injury, infections, and biological complications require prompt diagnosis to improve the condition of the patient and prevent significant damage.

Incidence of Lead Migration With Loss of Efficacy or Paresthesia Coverage After Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: Systematic Review and Proportional Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies and Randomized Clinical Trials

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this meta-analysis was to approximate the incidence of overall lead migration, clinically significant lead migration, and asymptomatic lead migration in patients who have undergone spinal cord stimulator implantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies published before May 31, 2022. Only randomized controlled trials and prospective observational studies with more than ten patients were included. Two reviewers analyzed the articles from the literature search for final inclusion, after which, study characteristics and outcome data were extracted. The primary dichotomous categorical outcome variables were the incidence of overall lead migration, clinically significant lead migration (defined as lead migration resulting in loss of efficacy), and asymptomatic lead migration (defined as lead migration discovered incidentally on follow-up imaging) in patients with spinal cord stimulator implant. Freeman-Tukey arcsine square root transformation for meta-analysis of proportions using random effects (DerSimonian and Laird method) was used to calculate incidence rates for the outcome variables. Pooled incidence rates and 95% CIs were calculated for the outcome variables.

RESULTS

Fifty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 2932 patients having received spinal cord stimulator implants. The pooled incidence of overall lead migration was 9.97% (95% CI of 7.62%-12.59%). Only 24 of the included studies commented on the clinical significance of reported lead migrations, of which every lead migration was clinically significant. In these 24 studies, 96% of the reported lead migrations required a revision procedure or explant. Unfortunately, no studies that reported lead migration commented on asymptomatic lead migrations; therefore, the incidence of asymptomatic lead migrations could not be defined.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis found that the rate of lead migration in patients who have received spinal cord stimulator implants is approximately one in ten patients. This likely closely approximates the incidence of clinically significant lead migration owing to the included studies not routinely performing follow-up imaging. Therefore, lead migrations were primarily discovered owing to loss of efficacy, and no included studies clearly reported asymptomatic lead migration. The results of this meta-analysis can be used to inform patients more accurately on the risks and benefits of spinal cord stimulator implantation.