1. The most cost intensive part of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is the price of the
implantable pulse generators (IPGs). Thus, it is of central importance to obtain
detailed data on IPG use: Which IPGs get implanted, and for what purpose, why do
they eventually get explanted, and what is the expected service life?
We analyzed data from ten years of SCS treatments at our institution.
Data were extracted from the Neurizon Neuromodulation Database.
Parameters analyzed were: IPG implantation replacement vs new implantation,
implanted model, and implanted model sorted by year.
Furthermore, we analyzed reasons for IPG explantation, and IPG service life sorted
by model.
All IPGs implanted between 1. Jan 2006 and 1. Jan 2016 at Aarhus University
Hospital, Denmark, were included in the analysis.
260 IPG implantations (of which 166 were new implantations and 94 were
replacements) were identified.
116 of those were later explanted and could be included for detailed analysis of IPG
service life and reasons for explantation.
The most common reasons for explantation were battery depletion (65),
insufficient treatment effect (17), and malfunction (9).
A total of 6,5% implanted IPGs have been explanted due to insufficient treatment.
Unexpectedly, 44% of the IPGs were implanted in patients living outside our unit's
catchment area, which significantly increases the revenue for our hospital.
The Neurizon Neuromodulation Database1 is an internet-based, generic, module-
oriented, publicly available database.
The numerous modules cover detailed patient characteristics and core treatment
parameters, including procedure-related details and complications.
It also features recording of key success parameters for follow-up of the treatment
such as pain intensity, work status, and quality of life.
The Neurizon Neuromodulation Database is intended for international
collaboration, and our colleagues in the field of neuromodulation are invited to use
the database in their own practice as a free clinical tool. Independent mirrors of the
database can be set up, keeping data local and confident.
1Meier K, Nikolajsen L, Flink M, Simonsen R, Milidou I, Jensen TS, Sørensen JC:
The Aarhus Neuromodulation Database. Neuromodulation 2013;16(6)
North American Neuromodulation Society, Jan. 2017. Poster # 57.
Contact: neuro@kaare.org
Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Ensemble Hospitalier de La Côte, Morges, Switzerland
Hôpital Cantonal de Fribourg, Fribourg Switzerland
Bethesda Spital, Basel, Switzerland
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
The table shows the median service life in years (IQR: 25 ; 75 %
interquartile range) of IPGs sorted by model, but irrespective of
reasons for explantation.
Important note: Of 260 IPGs implanted, 116 were explanted and
could be included for analysis. Thus, 144 IPGs are still functioning.