Effect of transauricular nerve stimulation on perioperative pain: a single-blind, analyser-masked, randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Activation of central autonomic pathways, including those regulating the arterial baroreflex, might reduce acute pain. We tested the hypothesis that transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation (TAN) reduces pain after orthopaedic trauma surgery through autonomic modulation.

Methods

A total of 86 participants aged >18 yr were randomly assigned to 50 min of either sham or active bilateral TAN, undertaken before, and again 24 h after, surgery for orthopaedic trauma. The primary outcome was absolute change in pain 24 h postoperatively, comparing the 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after TAN. Secondary outcomes included the minimal clinically important difference in pain (>10 mm increase or reduction in VAS) before/after surgery, using intention-to-treat a

SUBMITTER: Patel ABU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10080471 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature