Baseline Cognitive Status and 12-Month Response to Short-Term Spinal Cord Stimulation versus Bipolar Pulsed Radiofrequency for Zoster-Associated Pain: A Propensity Score-Matched Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

While short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) and bipolar pulsed radiofrequency (bPRF) are used for zoster-associated pain (ZAP), their comparative outcomes and baseline cognition's prognostic value remain underexplored. We compared 12-month pain response and secondary pain, sleep, and cognitive outcomes at multiple follow-up visits, and explored baseline response predictors.