Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.116, No.6, p.354-356, 2015

AIM: Our clinical experience with high – frequency SCS for FBSS in patients with predominant low back pain is presented.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: After a trial period, 100 % (21 out of 21) of patients with FBSS with predominant low back pain reported a significant improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and underwent permanent implantation of the high - frequency SCS system. SCS trials lasted 7–14 days (median 9 days). SCS leads were mostly positioned at the T8–10 or T8–12 vertebral levels . We used both single and dual lead placement. VAS, patient satisfaction, patient performance status, opioid consumption and complication rate were assessed for the period of 12 months.
RESULTS:

The mean VAS score before implantation (8.7) compared to VAS 12 months after implantation (4.0) was significantly lower (CI95[3.9–5.4], p < 0.001).

There was a significant improvement in performance status when comparing PS before implantation (3.0) and 12 months after implantation (1.8) (CI95[0.9–1.6], p < 0.001).

The mean patient satisfaction scores (PSS) did not differ throughout the whole one year follow-up period.
CONCLUSION: Our group of 21 patients with implanted high - frequency SCS systems reported significant low back pain and leg pain relief within the period of 12 months as well as significant improvement in their performance status. We had a special subgroup of 5 patients with regular change of frequencies between high frequency and conventional frequency (with paresthesia) also with significant leg and low back pain relief (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 8).