Systematic review and meta-analysis of intrathecal drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic refractory non-cancer pain
Authors' conclusion
ITDD is associated with meaningful reductions in pain from baseline, and functional and HRQoL improvement in patients with chronic non-cancer pain.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with chronic refractory non-cancer pain
- Participants
- 2,652 adults · 39 studies
- Comparison
- Intrathecal drug delivery (ITDD), change from baseline
- Outcome
- Pain intensity (0-10 scale equivalent), reduction from baseline
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, registered protocol, Reporting of adverse events (AEs) or discontinuation due to AEs inconsistent, Risk of bias moderate or high for cohort and pre-post studies, low for two crossover RCTs and one parallel-arm RCT, high for one parallel-arm RCT
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- Registered protocol
- Reporting of AEs or discontinuation due to AEs inconsistent
- Risk of bias moderate or high for cohort and pre-post studies, low for two crossover RCTs and one parallel-arm RCT, high for one parallel-arm RCT
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pain intensity (0-10 scale equivalent), pooled mean reduction from baseline
Probability that change from baseline in a new, similar study exceeds MCID of 2 units
75%
95% CI 68% to 83%
Further pooled results
- All studies reported improvements from baseline in function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
- Certainty of evidence very low
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Systematic review and meta-analysis of intrathecal drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic refractory non-cancer pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 8 September 2026. doi:10.
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