Clinical Trial Evidence and Mechanisms of Action in PDPN
Part of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: Evidence, Patient Selection, and Real-World Outcomes
Details
- Date
- Sunday, January 24, 2027
- Time
- 8:20 AM – 8:40 AM
- Session type
- Concurrent Session
- Schedule
- See this day
About
Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is among the most common and disabling complications of diabetes mellitus and remains a significant source of chronic neuropathic pain, impaired function, sleep disturbance, and reduced quality of life. Despite widespread use of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and opioid-based therapies, many patients continue to experience refractory pain with limited long-term benefit. Recent advances in spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have transformed the treatment landscape for PDPN. Randomized clinical trials, including SENZA-PDN, have demonstrated substantial improvements in pain reduction, neurologic function, sleep quality, and patient-reported outcomes among appropriately selected patients. As evidence supporting neuromodulation continues to expand, clinicians increasingly face questions regarding patient selection, timing of referral, durability of benefit, and practical implementation within multidisciplinary diabetes care. This session will review the evolving evidence base supporting SCS for PDPN, including randomized controlled trials, long-term follow-up data, and emerging real-world outcomes. Faculty will discuss mechanisms underlying neuromodulation in diabetic neuropathy, identify appropriate patient selection criteria, and examine implementation strategies for integrating SCS into routine clinical practice. Long-term outcomes, durability, cost-effectiveness, and future directions in neuromodulation for PDPN will also be addressed. Through expert-led presentations and case-based discussion, attendees will gain a practical framework for evaluating spinal cord stimulation as a therapeutic option for patients with refractory painful diabetic neuropathy.
Presenters
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Dr. Ori is an academic Pain Physician at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. After completing an internship year in General Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Ori graduated from the Anesthesiology residency program at the Brigham. She then completed the Pain Medicine Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital . Dr. Ori’s interests include intrathecal pump therapy as well as spinal cord, DRG and peripheral nerve stimulation, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and treatment of pelvic pain and cancer pain. She is also interested in addressing racial disparities in Pain Medicine and her passion lies in issues pertaining to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. She enjoys teaching and mentoring and is involved in the Pain Medicine Fellowship Program.
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Alaa A Abd-Elsayed, MD, MPH
Medical Director
Department of Anesthesiology, University of WI School of Medicine and Public Health · Madison, Wisconsin
Dr Abd-Elsayed serves as the Medical Director of UW Health Pain Services, Division Chief of Chronic Pain Medicine, and Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, edited about 40 books, and serves on the editorial board of several journals.
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Alaa A Abd-Elsayed, MD, MPH
Medical Director
Department of Anesthesiology, University of WI School of Medicine and Public Health · Madison, Wisconsin
Dr Abd-Elsayed serves as the Medical Director of UW Health Pain Services, Division Chief of Chronic Pain Medicine, and Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, edited about 40 books, and serves on the editorial board of several journals.