Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40620577›Full record

Trial reportJournal of pain research2025

Efficacy and Safety of Kilohertz Frequency Alternating Current with Non-Invasive Electrodes for Treatment of Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study.

Niannian Shuai, Yuyao Zhu, Yao Xiao, Bin Yu

Abstract readCase ReportsClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Niannian Shuai *Department of Anesthesiology, Ningbo University Affiliated People's Hospital, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Yuyao Zhu *Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Yao Xiao *Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Bin YuDepartment of Pain Rehabilitation, Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Affiliated with Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-7218-7535

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of noninvasive kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) therapy for neuropathic pain in patients following spinal cord injury. Methods: In this randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial conducted from June 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, 50 patients suffering from neuropathic pain post-spinal cord injury were assigned to receive either KHFAC or sham stimulation for 7 days, complemented by twice-daily oral administration of 75 mg pregabalin. Outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at baseline, at the end of treatment, and 30 days post-treatment. The primary outcome was the effective rate at the end of treatment, defined as a decrease in VAS score of 30% or more. Results: At the end of the 7-day treatment period, the experimental group demonstrated a significantly higher response rate, with 60% of participants achieving a 30% or greater reduction in VAS scores compared to 28% in the control group (X²=5.195, P<0.05). During this initial period, KHFAC effectively decreased pain intensity, reduced the frequency of paroxysmal pain, and lessened the need for additional analgesics. It also improved sleep quality and overall quality of life relative to sham stimulation. However, at the 30-day follow-up, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups. Conclusion: KHFAC is effective and safe for short-term neuropathic pain relief and quality of life enhancement in spinal cord injury patients, without an increase in adverse events versus sham stimulation. However, while reductions in analgesic use suggest potential lasting benefits, the long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. Further studies are required to assess the persistence of these effects. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300068114.

Indexed as

kilohertz electrical stimulationneuropathic painpatch electrodespinal cord injuryvisual analog scale

Identifiers

PMID40620577
PMCPMC12228514

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.