Salvage for SCS

This talk addresses salvage strategies for spinal cord stimulation (SCS), focusing on patients who experience loss of efficacy, unwanted sensations, or recharge difficulties. Traditional responses like reprogramming, stimulation holidays, waveform switching, or IPG replacement often still target the dorsal column, leading to repeated, ineffective interventions. The speaker proposes a paradigm shift: exploring dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation as an alternative target. DRG offers new therapeutic coverage for complex pain regions, especially in patients with failed SCS systems. A retrospective review of 60 patients demonstrated significant pain relief and opioid reduction using DRG, making it a promising salvage strategy in interventional pain management.