Papers of the Week

Intrathecal drug delivery systems are a well-established intervention for chronic pain. The localized delivery of analgesics allows for reduced side effect profiles and pain scores in patients with chronic pain. Given their proven benefits and the development of novel intrathecal medications, intrathecal drug delivery systems are being used earlier in chronic pain management treatment pathways. Success is reliant on proper patient selection and mitigating the risks of various adverse events stemming from the implantation procedure, medications, and the device itself. This article discusses patient selection criteria, medication selection, risks, complications, supporting data, and future directions of intrathecal drug delivery systems.