Tech restores lives of those in chronic pain

A multicentre study (the Avalon Study) has demonstrated the life-changing benefits of a closed-loop spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system in patients with chronic, intractable pain. Saluda Medical’s Evoke Closed-Loop System delivered profound pain relief scores and functional outcome measures at 24 months, with results published in Pain Practice — the official journal of the World Institute of Pain.

The system is designed to provide consistent therapy within a patient’s preferred levels and avoid periods of over- and under-stimulation. Outcome measures in the study approached normal levels in quality-of-life scores and reduced or eliminated opioids in most patients.

“The 24-month data from the Avalon Study continues to highlight the Evoke Closed-Loop System’s ability to restore patients’ lives,” said Dr Charles Brooker, Director of the Pain Management and Research Centre at Royal North Shore Hospital and lead author on the study.

“The investigators’ and patients’ experience suggests Saluda’s closed-loop technology could be an alternative or replacement to opioids in chronic back and leg pain patients. I feel the profound pain relief and functional quality of life and sleep improvements demonstrated indicate Evoke has become one of the most important tools in our armamentarium to treat chronic pain.”

Study highlights include:

• 89.5% of patients were responders (50% pain relief) and 68.4% were high responders (80% pain relief).
• Responder and high-responder rates improved over time (responders improved from 81.4% at 12 months to 89.5% at 24 months; high responders improved from 53.5% at 12 months to 68.4% at 24 months).
• 82.8% of patients reduced or eliminated opioids, with 41.4% of patients reducing to zero MMEs at 24 months.
• Patient reprogramming visits reduced to <1 per year after 12 months.
• Zero patients underwent explantation due to loss of efficacy.
• >80% experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in quality of life.
• >50% reported a clinically significant improvement in sleep.
   

“Our mission is to transform the lives of patients living with chronic neuropathic pain by equipping our therapy with the most advanced measurement and response technology. We believe this will translate into breaking down barriers due to cost, service burden and invasiveness, thus ensuring broad patient access,” Saluda Medical CEO Jim Schuermann said.

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