Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation.

The recent development and Food and Drug Administration approval in 2016 of dorsal root ganglion stimulation is a relatively new and novel form of target neuromodulation that promises improved outcomes compared with the current standard of care. Current literature is limited and dependent on industry evaluation. Future independent investigation will help clarify existing data and refine techniques to improve safety, effectiveness, and expand application.

Virtual Reality in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Scoping Review.

Virtual reality (VR) is a burgeoning treatment option for chronic pain. Its use has been heterogenous in the literature. This scoping review assesses the current literature for the use of VR in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP). The following themes were identified by the analysis: safety and feasibility of VR, quality of life associated with VR treatment for CLBP, efficacy of VR to treat CLBP, and efficacy of VR to treat functional changes associated with CLBP. Gaps were identified after analysis of the extant literature. Although the nascent research uncovered in this scoping review found good evidence for safety and tolerability of VR, more studies of safety, acceptance, and satisfaction are recommended including focused studies of spinal pain risks specific to use of VR. Overall, the methodological quality of studies reviewed in this scoping review was poor and outcomes were limited to short-term posttreatment outcomes.