Evaluating the Statistical Robustness of Randomized Controlled Trials of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Pain through the Use of Fragility Index
Authors' conclusion
This study suggests that the majority of RCTs investigating primary pain outcomes after SCS therapy are robust with relatively high fragility scores.
Study context
- Population
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for any chronic pain indication
- Participants
- 30 RCTs
- Outcome
- Trial-specific fragility index for the prespecified pain primary outcomes of RCTs
Methodological detailsfragility index analysis
- Fragility index analysis
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Fragility index, primary outcome of all trials
Median fragility index across the primary outcome of all trials
5.45
IQR 3.00 to 11.45
Further pooled results
Fragility by outcome type, primary vs secondary pain outcomes, and conflict of interest
- No statistical difference between dichotomous vs continuous outcomes
- P = 0.710
- No statistical difference between primary vs secondary pain outcomes
- P = 0.771
- No statistical difference between presence vs absence of trial conflict of interest
- P = 0.753
Fragility index by SCS indication (subgroup)
- Persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2, median (IQR)
- 8.00 (2.80 to 12.60)
- Painful diabetic neuropathy, median (IQR)
- 6.00 (3.00 to 11.80)
- Complex regional pain syndrome, median (IQR)
- 7.20 (4.62 to 81.50)
- Mixed etiologies, median (IQR)
- 9.00 (3.00 to 38.00)
- Other etiologies, median (IQR)
- 3.00 (1.00 to 8.55)
Original publication
Evaluating the Statistical Robustness of Randomized Controlled Trials of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Pain through the Use of Fragility Index. Anesthesiology. Published 1 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →