Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: Advances in the Field

The prevalence of chronic pain is increasing in the United States. Fortunately, a growing body of evidence continues to enhance our understanding of pain pathways and provide new avenues for clinical treatment of pharmacologic-resistant pain disorders. Specifically, the field of neurostimulation is garnering momentum with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) being one of the largest areas of interest over the last decade. PNS potentially offers clinicians an alternative treatment modality when conventional management options fail. The current body of literature is dominated by case series and reports; however, there is an increasing number of prospective clinical trials being conducted in recent years. As applications continue to expand, further evaluation of its utility, efficacy, and safety is needed.