A member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr. Brian Klagges serves as chief of anesthesia at the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center of New England. After obtaining his MD from the State University of New York at Buffalo, he proceeded to the Tufts-New England Medical Center, where he received residency training in general surgery. Dr. Brian Klagges is well versed in minimally-invasive surgical spine procedures and neuromodulation techniques.

Neuromodulation techniques involve implanting stimulatory electrodes inside a patient with a severe chronic illness to relieve symptoms and enhance their quality of life. For chronic spinal injuries, neuromodulation techniques may be considered when associated pain persists after patients receive required treatments. One common example is when there is recurrence or persistence of neuropathic pain in a patient who has already undergone a technically accurate spinal decompression surgery.

Since neuromodulation involves the implantation of foreign material into the body, a frequently asked question regarding the approach is whether the device could be rejected by the body. Neuromodulation devices are made of biocompatible materials which do not have any harmful reaction with body tissues. Unlike organ transplants, neuromodulation devices (special electrodes and catheters) do not require a tissue compatibility test. Tissue rejection has been reported only in extremely rare cases.