Skin Closure Technique and Postprocedural Pain after Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: A Retrospective Review

Table 2

Comparison of postoperative incisional pain scores based on superficial closure technique.

	Overall cohort median score (n = 152)	Staples cohort median score (n = 88)	Suture cohort median score (n = 64)	Unadjusted β-coefficient (95% CI)	Unadjusted value	Adjusted β-coefficient (95% CI)	Adjusted value
POD#1 NRS score^a	7.0 (5.0–8.0)	7.0 (5.0–8.0)	6.0 (5.0–8.0)	0.44 (−0.32 to 1.19)	0.252	0.17 (−0.61 to 0.95)	0.670
	Overall cohort median score (n = 124)	Staples cohort median score (n = 73)	Suture cohort median score (n = 51)	Unadjusted β-coefficient (95% CI)	Unadjusted value	Adjusted β-coefficient (95% CI)	Adjusted value
POD#10 NRS score^a	2.0 (0.0–4.0)	1.0 (0.0–4.0)	2.0 (0.0–5.0)	−0.28 (−1.24 to 0.69)	0.572	−0.39 (−1.35 to 0.58)	0.432

^aMedian value (25–75% interquartile range). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression was performed to compare pain scores based on superficial closure technique. The β-coefficients were performed with the reference cohort being the suture cohort. Variables that were controlled in the adjusted linear model included age, sex, body mass index, preprocedural pain score, type of implant, history of opioid use, and history of fibromyalgia. The value that is provided is based on the adjusted regression model. value <0.05. POD, postoperative day.