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Military concerns for chronic pain stimulator devices
  1. Scott Hughey1,2,
  2. R Field3,
  3. D Campbell3,
  4. J Cole1,3,
  5. G Booth3,4,
  6. M Stringer5 and
  7. E Stedjelarsen1,3
  1. 1Naval Biotechnology Group, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
  2. 2Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan
  3. 3Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
  4. 4Naval Biotechnology Group, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA
  5. 5NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Scott Hughey, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Okinawa, FPO AP 96362, JP; scott.b.hughey.mil{at}health.mil

Abstract

Spinal cord stimulators (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulators (PNS) are increasingly used in the treatment of chronic pain, allowing more patients to resume working and return to activities. Military service members face environmental and occupational hazards that expose them to mechanical and electromagnetic forces, both clinical and industrial, that could potentially alter their function. While there are reports of individual hazards, the risk appears to be nominal based on the large number of devices in use and the limited reported complications with these devices. Since a variety of hazards encountered by military patients have the potential to alter SCS and PNS devices, a brief discussion of each patient’s specific exposures and related hazards should occur prior to placement. Overall, these devices have demonstrated safety in hazardous areas and few military patients have contraindications for placement based on these factors alone.

  • Pain management
  • OCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
  • Back pain
  • Health & safety

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/military-2023-002366

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors SH is responsible for the overall content as guarantor. SH is also responsible for conception, acquisition and interpretation of data and reporting. RF and DC are responsible for acquisition and interpretation of data and reporting. JC is responsible for conception, planning and interpretation of data. GB and ES are responsible for conception, data analysis and interpretation of data. MS is responsible for planning and acquisition and interpretation of data.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Disclaimer The views expressed in this article reflect the results of research conducted by the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.