Focal intense brief transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for treatment of radicular and postthoracotomy pain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of focal intense brief transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in 2 groups of patients with neuropathic pain.


METHODS
Electric stimulation was delivered with a small stylus electrode pressed against the skin paravertebrally in the radiculopathy group and along the surgical incision in the postthoracotomy neuralgia group. A before-after treatment design was conducted with a verbal pain rating scale.


METHODS
Outpatient multidisciplinary pain clinic at a Midwestern Veterans Affairs medical center.


METHODS
Fourteen consecutive patients with well-documented radiculopathy and 4 consecutive patients with postthoracotomy neuralgia.


RESULTS
Statistically significant differences were found in both patient groups, with posttreatment scores reflecting less pain than pretreatment scores for every patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients reported reduced pain ratings following this stimulation technique. Further study of this inexpensive, noninvasive, outpatient technique is needed.
Carrol
E N
EN
Pain Clinic, Louis Stokes Dept of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Badura
A S
AS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome