2017 AAOS Annual Meeting: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Postoperative Pain Relief after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective, Double-blinded Randomized-control Trial

37 patients scheduled for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomized to either an active or sham transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device to be used for the first week postoperatively to determine its effect on postoperative pain. Patients were assessed for pain using a visual analog scale, and for the number of opioid analgesia pills taken (Percocet) over the first week after surgery. Results demonstrated significantly lower pain scores and Percocet consumption in the active TENS group compared to the sham TENS group after 1 week postoperatively.