Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40660498›Full record

SynthesisPain management2025

Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in complex regional pain syndrome: a systematic review.

Natiele Camponogara Righi, Richard Eloin Liebano, Mark I Johnson, Mary Cimen, Rodrigo Della Méa Plentz

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pain management, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

5 authors.

Natiele Camponogara RighiPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-7621-7204
Richard Eloin LiebanoDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4795-6723
Mark I JohnsonCentre of Pain Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9421-9622
Mary CimenDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA.
Rodrigo Della Méa PlentzPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Reabilitação, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-2662-8192

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionComplex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) causes disabling pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a treatment option. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects of TENS in patients with CRPS.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and PEDro databases up to June 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients with CRPS that evaluated the effects of TENS, regardless of parameters used, on pain intensity were considered eligible. Comparator groups could include placebo, usual care, or no intervention. Two independent reviewers extracted data, and a descriptive synthesis was performed. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool.

resultsOf the 517 records screened, only two clinical trials met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 38 participants (58% women). One study reported improvements in pain, mobility, and edema with conventional TENS compared to sham TENS. The other was a feasibility study that did not reach its recruitment target and presented only individual-level data without between-group comparisons. The assessment of the risk of bias revealed some concern about clarity of reporting of data analysis in both studies and the absence of protocol registration in one.

conclusionThere was insufficient evidence to judge the efficacy of TENS for analgesic and function improvement in patients with CRPS. Further studies are needed to inform clinical decision-making. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: registration number CRD42024554290.

Indexed as

Complex Regional Pain SyndromesTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicchronic painComplex regional pain syndromespainpersistent painTranscutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Identifiers

PMID40660498
PMCPMC12691556

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.