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Final Program


Final Program

Neuromodulation

408 - Assessing Gait Changes with 3D Motion Capture Following Saphenous Percutaneous Nerve Stimulator Implantation for Treatment of Severe Knee Osteoarthritis

Thursday, February 19, 2026
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST
Case Diagnosis: Altered gait mechanics in a 55-year-old male with severe knee osteoarthritis undergoing saphenous percutaneous nerve stimulator implantation for pain relief.

Case Description: A 55-year-old male patient presented for treatment of chronic knee pain from severe osteoarthritis with a planned peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) implant targeting the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve. A baseline gait evaluation was performed prior to the procedure to evaluate the treatment’s impact on gait. Spatiotemporal parameters and self-selected walking velocity were captured using a GAITRite mat, while joint kinematics and kinetics were evaluated using 3D motion capture. Additional assessment tools included the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 6-minute walk tests. Post-block gait data will be compared with baseline results.

Discussions: PNS is a minimally invasive treatment for joint-related pain. Although PNS is firmly established for its efficacy in pain relief, its influence on gait mechanics is unclear. To our knowledge, the use of 3D motion capture to assess gait changes following implantation of a peripheral nerve stimulator for treatment of lower extremity pain has not been previously reported. This approach may provide insight into the biomechanical effects of regional analgesia and elucidate its role in altering gait mechanics in patients with lower extremity pain.

Conclusions: This case demonstrates the value of 3D motion capture for quantifying how PNS at the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve for treatment of osteoarthritic knee pain affects gait mechanics. Baseline findings have been collected, with post-block results expected by the time of presentation. Our report will clarify the potential of lower-extremity PNS as a modality to support gait recovery through pain reduction.