Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for refractory neuropathic pain

1 Guidance

1.1 Current evidence on the safety of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) for refractory neuropathic pain raises no major safety concerns and there is evidence of efficacy in the short term. Therefore this procedure may be used with normal arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit.

1.2 Patient selection and treatment using PENS for refractory neuropathic pain should be carried out by teams specialising in pain management.

1.3 NICE encourages further research into PENS for refractory neuropathic pain, particularly to provide more information about selection criteria and long-term outcomes, with clear documentation of the indications for treatment.