A 10kHz spinal cord stimulation device can offer durable pain relief for patients with painful diabetic neuropathy who don’t respond to conventional therapy, a ‘game-changing’ study shows.

The 12-month results from the SENZA-PDN trial suggest that high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can also improve other key neurological parameters such as sensory function, US researchers report.

The findings support the six-month results published in April, which showed that 79% of those treated with the device had substantial pain relief versus just 5% of those who received conventional medical management (CMM).

Lead author Dr Erika Petersen, from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said patients who had exhausted all pharmacological treatment options now had a viable alternative.