Introduction: Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation demonstrated superiority over traditional spinal cord stimulation with better pain relief and greater improvement of quality of life. However, leads specifically designed for DRG stimulation are difficult to implant in patients who previously underwent spinal surgery and show epidural scarring at the desired site of implantation because of the reduced stiffness of the lead. Nevertheless, recurrent leg or arm pain after spinal surgery usually manifests as a single level radiculopathy, which should theoretically be amenable to DRG stimulation.
Materials and methods: We present the percutaneous transforaminal placement of cylindrical leads through a lateral endoscopic approach for DRG stimulation in burst mode.
Results: We could successfully show that percutaneous transforaminal lead placement is feasible in three illustrative cases.
Conclusion: This technical note combines two innovations, one linked to the other. The first innovation involves a novel endoscopic lateral transforaminal approach to insert a cylindrical lead to the DRG. Because this electrode is compatible with burst stimulation-enabled devices, a second innovation consists of the application of burst stimulation on the DRG.
Keywords: Chronic pain; DRG; dorsal root ganglion stimulation; failed back surgery syndrome; neuropathic pain.
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