Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postoperative pain relief after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prospective double-blinded randomized trial

68 patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear were randomized to either active or placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. (TENS). Patients were to self-administer the allocated treatment 4 times per day for the first 7 days after surgery. Outcome measures included pain scores, percocet consumption, compliance, and device-related complications. The active TENS group demonstrated significantly lower pain scores at 12 hours after surgery and on postoperative 7, though non-significant differences between groups were noted at time points in between (36h, 48h, POD 3-6). Percocet consumption was also significant lower in the active TENS group at 12 hours after surgery and at postoperative day 7.