The effect of intraoperative transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on postoperative neck pain following thyroidectomy

Abstract

Posterior neck pain following thyroidectomy is common because full neck extension is required during the procedure. We evaluated the effect of intraoperative transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on postoperative neck pain in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia. One hundred patients were randomised to one of two groups; fifty patients received TENS applied to the trapezius muscle and fifty patients acted as controls. Postoperative posterior neck pain and anterior wound pain were evaluated using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) at 30 min, 6, 24, and 48 hours following surgery. The numerical rating scale for posterior neck pain was significantly lower in the TENS group compared with the control group at all time points (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the numerical rating scale for anterior wound pain at any time point. No adverse effects related to TENS were observed. We conclude that intraoperative TENS applied to the trapezius muscle safely and effectively reduced posterior neck pain following thyroidectomy.