Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the Immediate Postoperative Period Following Proximal Femoral Fractures Reduces Drug Costs

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TENS on the costs generated with the intake of analgesic drugs in patients with proximal femoral fractures.

Study Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Santa Luzia Hospital, between September 2015 and July 2016.

Methodology: Forty-two patients, homogeneous for age, color and sex, were allocated into three groups. These were divided into TENS treatment (n=14), Placebo TENS (n=14) and Control (n=14), with application for a period of seventy-two hours postoperatively, assessing pain, by visual analogue scale, and drug intake (tenoxicam, dipyrone, tramadol, morphine and diazepam).

Results: Long-term TENS reduced pain and drug intake by 62.96% (tramadol), 45.61% (tenoxicam), 24% (dipyrone) and 87.5% (morphine) in patients in the postoperative period following femoral fracture. This reduction represented a decrease of US$ 3,975.34 for every 1,000 patients with proximal femoral fractures treated with TENS on the three days after surgery.

Conclusion: TENS, when used ininterrupedly, was shown to be effective for pain reduction and generated a significant reduction in drug-related costs in the immediate postoperative period of patients with proximal femoral fractures.