Table 1. Summary of Six Cases Receiving Thoracic Level DRG Stimulation.
DRG – dorsal root ganglion, F – Female, M – Male, VAS – visual analogue scale, TPI - trigger point injection; TENS - transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, NA – Not available, SCS – spinal cord stimulation, PT – physical therapy.
| Case | Age (Years) | Sex | Etiology of Thoracic Neuralgia | Duration of Symptoms (Years) | Distribution of Pain | Stimulator Status | Pre / Post Operative VAS | Pre / Post Operative Morphine Equivalent Use | Previous Therapies | Complications/ Reason for Removal |
| 1 | 42 | F | Abdominoplasty | 1 | Left: T12-L2 | Permanent | 4 / 0 | 30 / 0 | L1-L2 nerve block, Femoral nerve block, Cutaneous nerve block | Lead migration requiring wire replacement 1 year post-operatively |
| 2 | 55 | F | Bilateral Mastectomy | 3 | Bilateral: T4-T7 | Permanent | 8 / 1 | 25 / 0 | Intercostal nerve block, TPI | Programming reset |
| 3 | 46 | M | Herpetic neuralgia | 3 | Right: T12-L2 | Removed | 6 / 6 | 80 / NA | Epidural steroid injection, Ketamine injection, SCS | Pain caused by leads |
| 4 | 72 | F | Mastectomy | 3 | Left: T2-T4 | Removed | 7 / 8 | 1200 / NA | Thoracic facet injection, Intercostal nerve block, TENS, PT, SCS | Pain caused by leads |
| 5 | 68 | M | Herpetic Neuralgia | 4 | Left: T4-T7 | Removed | 8 / 8.5 | 80 / NA | Nerve block, SCS | No pain improvement |
| 6 | 76 | M | Herpetic Neuralgia | 7 | Left: T1-T3 | Removed | 8 / 5.5 | 40 / NA | SCS | Minimal pain improvement |