Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation for treatment of shoulder pain after spinal cord injury: A case report.

CONTEXT: This describes the first person with spinal cord injury (SCI) treated with percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation for chronic shoulder pain. FINDINGS: From baseline to one-week after treatment, the subject's worst pain in the last week, rated on a 0-10 numerical rating scale (BPI-SF3), decreased by 44%. Pain interference decreased and remained below baseline 12 weeks after the end of treatment. There was an associated improvement in the mental component of quality of life. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the feasibility of treating shoulder pain in patients with SCI with percutaneous PNS. To demonstrate efficacy further studies are required.