Appropriate Selection or Poor Triaging? Assessment of Patient Profiles for Neuromodulation to a Tertiary Academic Pain Program

INTRODUCTION Assessing patients with refractory pain who may not be appropriate candidates for SCS results in: Disappointment and frustration for patients and carers Suboptimal use of limited program resources Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Neuromodulation clinic referral and triage process.

METHODOLOGY Study Period: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024. Data Source: Referral and assessment records from the Neuromodulation for Pain Program (NPP). Cohort Classification: Patients were categorized into two groups: SCS-appropriate (Neuromodulation appropriate). SCS-Inappropriate (Inappropriate referral for neuromodulation) Data was collected, summarized and analyzed

CONCLUSION FUTURE DIRECTIONS 35% of referred patients were assessed as being unsuitable for SCS. We identified pain intensity and quality as factors that may influence the probability of neuromodulation being an appropriate therapy for pain. Other variables included: Whether referral was from a “neuromodulation-educated” physician Patient daily opioid dose