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The following is a summary of “Trigeminal neuralgia improvement following Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): a systematic review and meta-analysis,” published in the January 2025 issue of Neurology by AlHabil et al.
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common craniofacial pain disorder marked by severe, unilateral, shock-like pain. Standard treatments often provide limited relief, leading to the exploration of non-invasive therapies like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of TENS in managing primary trigeminal neuralgia.
They searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, selecting 5 clinical trials with 101 primary patients with TN treated with TENS. Data on pain severity, TENS parameters, and outcomes were analyzed using RevMan software, with visual analogue scale (VAS) scores assessed before and after treatment.
The results showed that pre-treatment VAS scores averaged 8.75 ± 0.18, indicating severe pain. Post-treatment, the mean VAS score decreased to 1.17 ± 0.55, showing significant pain relief. The meta-analysis revealed a mean difference of 7.49 (95% CI: 7.05 to 7.93) in VAS scores, with a P-value < 0.05. Heterogeneity was moderate (I2= 57%). Complications were rare, with 1 study reporting paresthesia in a few patients.
Investigators found TENS to be an effective and safe intervention for reducing pain in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia. The evidence supported TENS as a viable option, though future research should focus on standardizing protocols and assessing long-term efficacy and safety.
Source: bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-024-04014-2
