High-frequency SCS Versus SCS in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

The incidence rate of diabetes peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) is high, and there is no clear and effective treatment, which is a clinical problem to be solved urgently.

Traditional spinal cord electrical stimulation (SCS) has the potential to treat DPNP, and its efficacy depends on the tingling sensation generated by the electrical stimulation covering the painful area of the patient. The neurological dysfunction of DPNP patients and the defects of traditional SCS lead to unsatisfactory therapeutic effects.

The emerging high-frequency SCS (HF-SCS) technology can treat chronic pain without relying on tingling sensation. Multiple evidence shows that HF-SCS has better long-term efficacy in treating chronic neuropathic pain than traditional SCS.

Our research group has also preliminarily confirmed the effectiveness and safety of HF-SCS in treating DPNP.

Therefore, this study intends to use a multicenter prospective randomized controlled clinical research method to explore the superiority of HF-SCS in treating DPNP compared to traditional SCS, and establish a standardized diagnosis and treatment platform database for DPNP in Beijing.

This project will provide high-level evidence-based medicine for the treatment of DPNP with HF-SCS, and also provide clinical big data support for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of DPNP in the future.

On the basis of medical engineering integration, an innovative remote control system is applied to achieve real-time adjustment and precise regulation of SCS treatment parameters.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with diabetes, aged between 18 and 80 years old;
• Symmetrical pain in the distal lower extremities with or without dysesthesia;
• Duration of symptoms exceeding 6 months;
• Pain described as stabbing and/or electric shock-like and/or burning sensation;
• Abnormal Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST);
• Presence of hyperalgesia and allodynia;
• Absence of lower limb reflexes and muscle strength abnormalities;
• Normal MRI or CT scans without spinal canal stenosis or other spinal abnormalities.

Exclusion criteria

• Concurrent severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases;
• History of lumbar spine surgery, trauma, or spinal canal stenosis within the past 6 months, or a history of lumbar spine surgery, trauma, or spinal canal stenosis that would impact the SCS surgery and pain assessment in this study;
• Presence of radicular symptoms;
• Other spinal abnormalities, such as benign or malignant tumors, congenital abnormalities of the spine, spinal instability, etc.;
• Coexisting disorders of the coagulation system, malignant tumors, infections, and psychiatric or psychological disorders;
• Pregnancy.