Spinal Cord Stimulation System Adversely Affects Outcomes in Spinal Deformity Surgery, Study Reports

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Global Spine Journal has found that patients with a preexisting spinal cord stimulator (SCS) placement undergoing surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) have poorer clinical outcomes compared to those without a SCS. The retrospective case-control study analyzed 94 patients with and without a previous history of SCS placement undergoing surgery for ASD with minimum 2-year follow-up. The results show that despite similar baseline Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and back visual analog scale (VAS) scores, SCS patients did worse at all post-operative time intervals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed 94 patients with and without preexisting SCS placement undergoing surgery for ASD with minimum 2-year follow-up.
  • SCS patients had similar baseline ODI (56 vs 50, p = 0.11) and back VAS (6.8 vs 6.6, p = 0.52) scores but worse outcomes at all post-operative time intervals.
  • At 6 months, the SCS cohort had higher ODI (48 vs 31, p < 0.001) but not statistically significant difference in back VAS scores.
  • SCS patients did not experience a decrease in narcotic use at 2 years despite having similar overall radiographic results and complication rates.
  • The study did not find a significant difference in complication rates between SCS and non-SCS patients.
  • The authors suggest that the adverse effect of SCS on outcomes in ASD surgery may be due to the underlying neurological issues associated with SCS placement.

Statistics:

  • 94 patients with and without preexisting SCS placement undergoing surgery for ASD with minimum 2-year follow-up.
  • 33 SCS patients undergoing ASD surgery with minimum 2-year follow-up were compared with a matched cohort of 61 ASD patients without SCS.
  • At 6 months, the SCS cohort had a higher ODI score of 48 compared to 31 in non-SCS patients (p < 0.001).
  • At 2 years, SCS patients did not experience a decrease in narcotic use despite having similar overall radiographic results and complication rates.

Sources:

  • Spinal Cord Stimulators Adversely Affect Outcomes in Spinal Deformity Surgery. A Retrospective Case-Control Study. Global Spine Journal, 2025;15(8):3898-3908.
  • NewsRx. New Spinal Cord Stimulation System Study Findings Reported from Biodun Adeniyi and Co-Authors (Spinal Cord Stimulators Adversely Affect Outcomes in Spinal Deformity Surgery. A Retrospective Case-Control Study). Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week. November 2, 2025; p 1103.