Dr. Charles Kim: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation 2.0, Part 2

RUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine

Dr. Kim received his medical degree from SUNY Brooklyn and he completed a residency in both physical medicine and rehabilitation, along with a fellowship in anesthesiology and pain management at Mt. Sinai. He is board certified in both PM&R and anesthesiology.

In Part 1 of his presentation, he indicated that he would mention some specific products and companies, but he does not have a financial relationship with them. One of his objectives is to provide background information about PNS. Currently, there is an increase in this kind of technology and also in the demand for non-opioid pain management. PNS can be fitted into the specialty of neuro modulation, a field that touches upon multiple specialties, including PM&R. The basic goal in PNS is to stimulate the nerve and reduce unwanted pain. PNS has been around since the early 1960s. Pain is the most common indicator for employing its usage. Dr. Kim has a specific interest in post-stroke shoulder pain, which is a difficult condition to treat. Post-surgical pain in general and post-amputation pain have led to the increased demand for PNS. Complications of this kind of treatment include the risk of infection and scarring around the nerve. Modern implantables show why PNS has increased in demand because technology has led to more miniaturization of these stimulators, which significantly has decreased the amount of invasiveness. Based on work performed at Rusk, he mentioned how research findings have been shared with professional organizations, such as the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS).

In Part 2 of his presentation, he continued describing the current state of research on the use of PNS, which to some degree is lacking, but certainly it potentially is increasing. He referred to a multi-center, randomized, double-blind investigation that looked at PNS technologies in a variety of pain conditions. He then described a product that was cleared by the FDA in July 2016. It involves the use of multiple electronic leads rather than using a single one. The implant used is of a temporary nature (60 days) rather than something permanently. He pointed out that because the technology is much smaller, no incision is necessary. The micro lead is much smaller in diameter and does not have to be as close to the nerve. He showed a video about a typical implant for a shoulder, involving the 60-day version of technology being used. While it played, he narrated some of the steps shown in the video regarding the implant of the electrode. Everything becomes stabilized as the electrode moves closer to the nerve. His presentation concluded with his fielding questions asked by participants at this event, including two by Dr. Steven Flanagan, Director of the Rusk Rehabilitation Institute at NYU Langone Health.