Keywords
neuromodulation
peripheral nerve stimulation
chronic pain
interventional analgesia
Abstract
Chronic neuropathic pain affects approximately 6-10 % of the general population and is associated with significant functional, psychological, and socioeconomic burden. Despite advances in pharmacological management, a substantial proportion of patients fail to achieve adequate pain control with first-line therapies. In this context, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has emerged as a minimally invasive, targeted neuromodulation technique that allows anatomically directed treatment of the affected neuropathic territory.
This review summarizes the available clinical evidence on PNS, including randomized controlled trials, prospective multicenter studies, and systematic reviews published between 2005 and 2024. Current data demonstrate clinically meaningful pain reductions (≥ 50 %) in a significant proportion of patients with refractory localizado neuropathic pain, along with sustained functional improvement and reduced opioid consumption. The safety profile is favorable, with a low incidence of serious adverse events.
Overall, PNS represents an effective and safe therapeutic option whose early and rational integration into stepwise chronic neuropathic pain management algorithms is supported by growing evidence and recent international consensus recommendations.
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