• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Billing Portal
SPRINT® PNS System

SPR Therapeutics

SPRINT PNS System

  • Product
  • For Physicians
    • Clinical Outcomes & References
    • Implant Procedure Videos
    • Video Resources
    • SPRcare Reimbursement
    • Important Safety Information
    • MRI Safety Information
    • Promotional Marketing Toolkit
  • For Patients
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient Resources
    • Recursos para pacientes
    • MicroLead™ Safety
    • MRI Safety Information
  • Clinical Trials
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Press Room
  • Careers

This Non-Drug Therapy Could Replace Opioids for Pain Management

January 21, 2020

MossRehab is the first in the region to use the SPRINT endura Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) System, a promising new therapy for acute and chronic pain.

by QUEEN MUSE

The SPRINT endura Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) System is a recently FDA-approved treatment for acute and chronic pain. / Courtesy

As the clinical director of neuromodulation services at MossRehab, Michael Saulino is always looking for new ways to treat nerve pain in patients that don’t involve addictive opioids.

“When it comes to neuropathic pain, opioids are not very effective at all,” Saulino said. “Patients often wind up being dependent on it, not because of their pain relief qualities, but just because of the addictive nature of the medication.”

When Saulino learned about a new, minimally invasive nerve stimulation therapy last year, he jumped at the opportunity to offer the treatment to Moss patients.

Saulino is the first physician in Philadelphia to use the SPRINT endura Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) System, a recently FDA-approved treatment for acute and chronic pain. MossRehab is the only facility in the region that currently offers the 60-Day implant treatment that does not require surgery, incisions or anesthesia. Studies show that pain relief is sustained after the implant is removed. Saulino says it’s a welcome option for stroke patients who typically have to choose between less effective treatment options like antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and injection therapies that come with a host of side effects.

Saulino has used the SPRINT system to treat several post-stroke shoulder pain patients. So far, half of the patients Saulino treated have eliminated their pain medications completely and the other half of patients have reduced their medication. All of Saulino’s patients reported greater than 50 percent relief, including Peterson Saintvil.

Peterson Saintvil, 30, was one of the first patients to receive the SPRINT system therapy at Moss.

Ten years ago, Saintvil experienced a slip-and-fall accident that caused him to have a stroke and required that he undergo spine surgery at the young age of 20. Despite having an intrathecal pump — a device that delivers pain medication such as morphine via spinal fluid — Saintvil continued to struggle with post-stroke shoulder pain. An orthopedic doctor told him surgery was his only hope for pain relief. Another doctor Saintvil visited for a second opinion sent him home with a prescription for Oxycontin, the highly addictive pain medication with side effects like respiratory failure and death.

Saintvil didn’t like any of the treatment options he’d been offered.

“I didn’t want to have another surgery. Every doctor I went to, whether they were in spine care or rehabilitative medicine, all wanted to prescribe me medication,” he said. “I was having a lot of pain, but I couldn’t bring myself to take the medication they prescribed because I didn’t like the way it made me feel.”

At the recommendation of a friend, Saintvil went to Moss last summer where Saulino implanted the SPRINT system in his arm.

The SPRINT system relies on a strong but tiny wire that’s roughly the size of the fishing line. According to Saulino, the goal of the procedure is to get that wire close to nodes that are supporting the pain that the patient is experiencing.

To start, the doctor conducts an ultrasound or an x-ray, or, as in Peterson’s case, uses their hands and eyes to identify the right nodes to target. They then numb the skin before puncturing it with the needle to get close to the nodes they need to stimulate.

Next, the doctor advances the wire through the needle and then takes the needle out of the arm, leaving the wire in place. The wire comes out of the skin and gets connected to a cradle that connects to a battery pack.  The patient is given a remote control that sends an electrical charge from the battery to the wire and ultimately to the targeted area where the patient is experiencing pain.

In total, Saintvil’s procedure took about an hour to complete. After 30 days, Saulino removed the system, and Saintvil says he’s been relatively pain-free ever since.

“After the first week, I felt relief,” Saintvil said. “They said I needed to have the treatment in for at least 30 days but after two weeks I didn’t feel any pain at all.”

According to Saulino, upwards of 50 to 70 percent of patients with stroke have shoulder pain. In clinical studies, SPRINT provided significant relief for 87 percent of participants experiencing chronic pain.

SPRINT has also been used in trials to treat post-amputation pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and post-operative pain following joint replacement. Based on positive trial results and encouraging outcomes from his own post-stroke pain patients, Saulino has plans to offer SPRINT as a treatment option for a broader patient population, including patients with low back pain.

The cost of therapies like SPRINT could be a barrier for some patients, however. Moss declined to share specific cost estimates with us saying costs vary widely depending on the price a hospital sets to perform the procedure and the insurance coverage a patient has. According to Saulino, hospitals that offer the treatment typically pay the upfront costs to purchase the implant and then the patient is billed through their insurance company. Some insurance companies will cover more of the cost than others. Neil Malhotra is an associate professor of neurosurgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and co-director of the Translational Spine Research Lab at Penn Medicine. Malhotra cautioned that the technologies that make nerve stimulation therapies like SPRINT possible can be pricey, but he didn’t rule out offering the treatment to his patients at Penn.

“Sometimes insurance covers these treatments but often, they do not, which means the cost may fall to the patient,” he said. “Such a treatment would be low risk, with high potential benefit. If proven, we would consider offering this treatment at Penn.”

“Cost is such a difficult onion to peel,” Saulino added. “But if we can save one patient from opioid addiction, I’d say the cost is worth it.”

Read the full article at Philadelphia Magazine.

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on SMS Share on Email
Category: News
Previous Post:STUDY OF SPRINT PERIPHERAL NERVE STIMULATION SYSTEM DEMONSTRATES 12 MONTHS OF LOW BACK PAIN RELIEF FOLLOWING 60-DAY TREATMENT
Next Post:New Device Targets Nerve To Alleviate Pain

Sidebar

Archives

Recent News

Dr. Samir Sheth discusses how the SPRINT® PNS System has impacted his approach to treating patients with chronic head and neck pain

SPR Therapeutics Debuts Occipital Nerve Stimulation Data at ASRA 2022

A Discussion on Pain Management Options for Patients with Breast Cancer with Dr. Amitabh Gulati

Real-World Retrospective Review of Axial Neck Pain Relief Following Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of Cervical Medial Branch Nerves

Pain Medicine News Features SPRINT® PNS System Real-World Survey Outcomes

Tags

60-day percutaneous PNS acute pain Back Pain back pain treatment cancer pain chronic back pain Chronic Pain clinical study Dr. Mehul Desai drug-free EY award hip pain low back pain medial branch Neuromodulation Non-opioid oncological pain opioid alternative Pain pain appointment pain physician pain relief pain treatment Patients Patient Story peripheral nerve stimulation permanent PNS implant phantom limb pain PNS PNS training post-amputation pain Press release radiofrequency ablation recondition CNS reduced opioids research Research study residual limb pain RFA Shoulder Pain SPRINT PNS SPRINT PNS System temporary pns Training lab webinar
SPRINT® PNS System

22901 Millcreek Blvd, Suite 500
Cleveland, OH 44122
(844) 378-9108 Phone
(216) 803-0777 Fax

Top Work Places 2022

Quick Links

  • Product
  • For Physicians
  • For Patients
  • Clinical Trials
  • News & Events
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Legal Links

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • CPRA Requests
  • Important Safety Information
  • Compliance
  • FCOI Policy
  • Product Terms & Conditions
  • Patent Information

Recent News Headlines

Dr. Samir Sheth discusses how the SPRINT® PNS System has impacted his approach to treating patients with chronic head and neck pain

NANS 26th Annual Meeting – Las Vegas, NV

Sprint Regional Lab – Jacksonville

Sprint Regional Lab – Chicago

The SPRINT PNS System is indicated for up to 60 days for: (i) Symptomatic relief of chronic, intractable pain, post-surgical and post-traumatic acute pain; (ii) Symptomatic relief of post-traumatic pain; and (iii) Symptomatic relief of post-operative pain. The SPRINT PNS System is not intended to treat pain in the region innervated by the cranial and facial nerves. Physicians should use their best judgment when deciding when to use the SPRINT PNS System. For more information see the SPRINT PNS System IFU. Most common adverse events are skin irritation and erythema. Results may vary. Rx only.

View References for support of all claims.

The SPRINT® PNS System, MicroLead™, OnePass Introducer™, Rethink Your Pain Strategy™, Outsmart Pain™, Sustained Pain Relief Starts Here™, Life. Get Back to It.™ and SPR® are registered or common law trademarks of SPR Therapeutics, Inc.


Copyright © 2023 SPR Therapeutics. All Rights Reserved.

This website is intended only for US and Canadian residents 18 years of age and older. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Save & Accept
Powered by CookieYes Logo