Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

The Korean Dental Society of Anesthsiology (대한치과마취과학회)
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Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an adjunct therapy in trigeminal neuralgia - a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study

  • Bisla, Suman (Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences) ;
  • Gupta, Ambika (Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences) ;
  • Agarwal, Shalini (Department of Radio-diagnosis, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Singh, Harneet (Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences) ;
  • Sehrawat, Ankita (Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences) ;
  • Singh, Aarti (Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences)
  • Received : 2021.06.17
  • Accepted : 2021.10.22
  • Published : 2021.12.01
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Abstract

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe form of pain that affects the daily activities of a patient. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is an emerging option for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TENS therapy as an adjunct to drug therapy for the treatment of TN. Methods: A total of 52 patients diagnosed with TN according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (version 3) were included. Each patient was randomized to either the TENS or placebo TENS groups. Intervention was given in continuous mode and 100-Hz frequency for 20 mins biweekly for 6 weeks. Parameters were measured at baseline, TENS completion and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year of follow up. The parameters observed were mean carbamazepine dose, mean visual analog scale (VAS) score, mean present pain intensity (PPI) score, and functional outcome. Non-parametric analyses, one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were applied for intragroup comparisons, while the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test were used for intergroup comparisons of variables. The chi-square test was applied to analyze categorical data. Results: Compared to the placebo TENS group, the mean dose of carbamazepine in the TENS group was significantly reduced at TENS completion, as well as at 6 months and 1 year follow up. Changes in mean VAS score, mean PPI score, and functional outcome did not show significant differences between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: TENS therapy does not lead to any changes in pain levels but it may reduce the mean dose of carbamazepine when used as an adjunct treatment in patients with TN.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Dr. Ambika Gupta and Dr. Shalini Agarwal participated in the study design. Dr. Ambika, Dr. Shalini, and Dr. Suman Bisla conducted the literature research, data acquisition, and data analysis. Dr. Suman Bisla and Dr. Ankita Sehrawat drafted the manuscript, and Dr. Ambika Gupta, Dr. Harneet Singh, and Dr. Aarti Singh performed the manuscript review. All authors have read and approved the content of the manuscript. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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