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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2022
Background: The challenges of chronic pain management, and resulting poorer outcomes, in workers’ compensation (WCB) patients has been well established. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used for the management of low back and radicular neuropathic pain with varying effectiveness and it’s efficacy in the WCB population has been challenged. We sought to examine our experience using SCS in WCB compared to non WCB patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 71 WCB patients assessed and treated at the St Pauls Hospital neuromodulation program between 2016-2021 was performed. This group was compared to a cohort on non WCB patients in terms of the likelhood of being offered a trial, proceeding with trial if offered, and the likelhood of a successful trial proceeding to implant. Results: Compared to non WCB, the WCB patients were more likely to be offered a trial (86% vs 77%) and more likely to proceed with a trial if offered (82% vs 71%). Trial to implant ratios were similar in both WCB and non WCB patients (78% vs 77%). Conclusions: WCB patients were more likely to be offered a SCS trial and more likely to accept if offered, compared to non-WCB patients. However, both groups were similar in trial to implant probability.