MossRehab in Elkins Park, Pa, one of the country's leading rehabilitation institutes, is now offering the SPRINT Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) System, a non-narcotic therapy for the relief of shoulder pain following a stroke. Shoulder pain affects approximately 30 percent of stroke survivors, delaying recovery and reducing quality of life. MossRehab is one of the early adopters of the neurostimulation system, and the only facility in the Northeast currently offering the innovative device.
"Most pain relief options are not ideal including prescription opioids, which can provide effective, non-invasive relief, but often come with significant negative side effects," said Dr. Michael Saulino of MossRehab who will be performing the outpatient procedure. "Conventional methods of neuromodulation are typically a last resort, because surgery to implant and reverse them can be quite invasive. However, SPRINT is different."
The SPRINT PNS System was designed to activate targeted nerve fibers and to deliver sustained, significant pain relief without opioids, permanent implants or tissue destruction. The FDA-cleared therapy was developed to address a wide spectrum of chronic and acute post-surgical pain conditions affecting millions worldwide.
SPRINT includes a proprietary threadlike lead and a small, wearable stimulator. The lead is placed percutaneously, or through the skin, without surgery, and connects to the wearable stimulator, which activates peripheral nerves to achieve pain relief.
The tiny 0.2mm lead delivers small electrical impulses that are intended to activate nerves to reduce pain. The coiled lead is designed to stay in place while allowing for muscle movement while simultaneously providing a barrier to prevent infection at the exit site. For shoulder pain following stroke, the wire is placed near the axillary nerve in the shoulder.
"The stimulation technology is housed within the external pulse generator and is programmed by the physician at the time of implant to provide therapy for up to 60 days," said Dr. Saulino. "MossRehab's experienced neurorehabilitation staff is ideally positioned to administer this groundbreaking pain relief therapy."
"There's a wide spectrum of pain treatments from anti-inflammatory medications and exercise, to last-resort therapies including surgery and implantable neuromodulators," said Maria Bennett, CEO, Founder and President of SPR Therapeutics. "In the middle, there's a vast grey area largely filled with painkillers like opioids. The SPRINT PNS System offers sustained pain relief without surgery or opioids." In clinical studies, SPRINT provided significant relief for approximately 87% of participants experiencing chronic pain. Patients reported that pain that had previously inhibited many areas of their lives was significantly reduced.
"We're really excited for the opportunity to work with MossRehab and Dr. Saulino to help patients in the Greater Philadelphia area achieve pain relief without narcotics. Many of our patients, once suffering from severe, life-altering pain can now sleep, walk and work again," said Bennett.
The first patients will begin receiving the PNS System this fall at MossRehab.
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