Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42902059›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology2026

The efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an adjunctive therapy for perioperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty: an umbrella review.

Meihui Huang, Peiyuan Tang, Ting Wen, Yusheng Li, Bangbao Lu, Xucheng Yang, Wenfeng Xiao, Kai Zhang

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

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2026. 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

8 authors.

Meihui Huang *Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Peiyuan Tang *Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Ting WenDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Yusheng LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Bangbao LuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Xucheng YangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Wenfeng XiaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. xiaowenfeng@csu.edu.cn.
Kai ZhangChangde First People's Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changde, Hunan, China. zhangkaichangde@163.com.

Funding

Key Technologies Research and Development Program No. 2023YFB4606705National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders Xiangya Hospital No.2021KFJJ02National Natural Science Foundation of China 82572952National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 82272611Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province No.2023JJ30949Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province No. 2023SK2024
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a cornerstone intervention for end-stage knee pathologies, yet acute postoperative pain remains a critical barrier to rehabilitation. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a non-pharmacological adjunct, has potential for pain mitigation, but its efficacy lacks robust evidence from umbrella reviews.

methodsThis umbrella review systematically evaluated meta-analyses (MAs) published through September 2025 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Overlap among primary studies was assessed using the GROOVE tool, and evidence quality was graded via the AMSTAR 2 and GRADE frameworks. This umbrella review is registered on the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under accession no. CRD420251126630.

resultsEleven MAs were included in this review. The results showed that TENS significantly reduced acute postoperative pain at 24 h (MD = - 0.42, 95% CI - 0.59, - 0.25, P < 0.00001, I

conclusionsTENS is an effective adjunct for acute pain management after TKA, reducing opioid use and improving early functional outcomes. Future research should aim to standardize TENS application protocols and evaluate long-term efficacy and safety.

Indexed as

Arthroplasty, Replacement, KneePain ManagementPostoperative PainTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicOpioid consumptionPostoperative painTotal knee arthroplastyTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulationUmbrella review

Identifiers

PMID42902059
PMCPMC13683297

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.