Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) has been reported to reduce postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption after postoperative. This study aims to evaluate the effect of TENS application on recovery quality after interscalene block for shoulder surgery.
Shoulder rotator cuff repair and acromioplasty are associated with severe pain after surgery. Interscalene block (ISB) is the gold standard for shoulder surgery, but the block duration does not exceed 6-8 hours. In addition, after the resolution of ISB, patients experience severe pain and need high doses of opioids. Rebound pain is observed in the postoperative period after the effect of the nerve block abolition. Rebound pain affects the quality of recovery and sleep quality in postoperative. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief that uses cutaneously applied electrodes for delivering electrical signals to peripheral nerves through the intact skin. TENS is safe and effective for acute postoperative pain treatment. In addition, TENS has been used in anesthesia to treat postoperative nausea vomiting, and labor analgesia beyond providing analgesia. We hypothesized that TENS application would reduce the incidence of rebound pain, reduce the need for postoperative opioids, and improve recovery and sleep quality. This study will be conducted as a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial in a university hospital. Patients scheduled for elective shoulder surgery will be screened for enrollment in the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
80
Patients will receive 2 mg midazolam and 50 ug fentanyl for sedation before the block procedure. Each patient will be positioned appropriately, then a high-frequency linear array transducer (13-6 MHz) will be placed in the interscalene region to define the brachial plexus on the short axis. Under sterile conditions, 50 mm block needle will be advanced through the interscalene groove. After localization and negative aspiration, 15 ML of 5% bupivacaine drug will be injected into the interscalene area. The control group will also receive the TENS-pants electrodes, connected to TENS treatment. In the placebo-TENS applications on the painful area, 2 channels with 4 electrodes in the acute period will be applied. However, the TENS treatment to the control group will be set so that no electricity will reach the patient. A multimodal analgesia regimen will be applied postoperatively
Patients will receive 2 mg midazolam and 50 ug fentanyl for sedation before the block procedure. Each patient will be positioned appropriately, then a high-frequency linear array transducer (13-6 MHz) will be placed in the interscalene region to define the brachial plexus on the short axis. Under sterile conditions, 50 mm block needle will be advanced through the interscalene groove. After localization and negative aspiration, 15 ML of 5% bupivacaine drug will be injected into the interscalene area. In the TENS applications on the painful area, 2 channels with 4 electrodes in the acute period will be applied. TENS device will be applied 4 times a day with treatment periods of 30 minutes. A multimodal analgesia regimen will be applied postoperatively
Karaman Training and Research Hospital
Karaman, Turkey (Türkiye)
Quality of Recovery-15 score
Minimum value: 0, Maximum value: 150, higher scores mean better.
Time frame: Postoperative 24th hour
Quality of Recovery-15 score
Minimum value: 0, Maximum value: 150, higher scores mean better.
Time frame: postoperative day 2 and 7
Numerical Rating Scale
Range 0-10, 0=no pain, 10=the worse pain ever.
Time frame: 48 hours
Opioid consumption
Opioid consumption
Time frame: 48 hours
The difference of pain score before and after interscalene block resolution
The difference in the pain score between when the block is working and when it has resolved. Pain scores (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain imaginable) using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10.
Time frame: First 24 hours after interscalene block effect disappears
Incidence of rebound pain
Rebound pain is described as severe pain (NRS ≥ 7)
Time frame: 24 hours after surgery
Sleep Quality measured with Likert Scale
Patients' perceived sleep quality will be assessed with a Likert scale. Likert scale is scored from Likert scale where 1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neutral, 4 = satisfied and 5 = very satisfied.
Time frame: One week after surgery
Number of Participants with Surgical infection
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Number of Participants diagnosed with surgical infection
Time frame: Postoperative 14 days