ANALGETIC EFFECT OF DiaDENS-PC IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Lesnyak O. Analgetic effect of dynamic electroneurostimulation in patients with knee osteoartritis (randomized placebo-controlled study) / O.Lesnyak, E.Kadochnikova, A.Vlasov // Osteoporosis International. 2009. V.20 (Suppl.1). S40.

ANALGETIC EFFECT OF DYNAMIC ELECTRONEUROSTIMULATION IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS (RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY)

O. Lesnyak, E. Kadochnikova, A. Vlasov
Family Medicine, Ural State Medical Academy, Yekaterinburg, RU

Introduction: Pain syndrome essentially worsens quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Dynamic electroneurostimulation (DENS) is a new version of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation consisting on influence on pain projection by impulses of bipolar current which sinusoid form changes depending on change of skin impedance in subelcctrode zone. Aim: To study the efficiency of DENS on pain relief and joints function in knee OA.

Patients and Methods: This was a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled research. 48 outpatients aged 40-80 years with knee OA (under the American College of Rheumatology criteria) who had a knee pain more than 40 mm on visual analog scale (VAS) were randomly divided on two groups whom 10 standard daily procedures of DENS (30 patients) or placebo-DENS (28 patients) have been appointed. Before treatment the compared groups did not differ by age and clinical features of OA.

In both groups applicator connected to DiaDENS-PC device or DiaDENS-PC apparatus-placebo was fixed at the knee area. Pain scored on a 100-mm to VAS and physical ability («stand and go» test, sec/5 m) were assessed before and after the procedure by the independent investigator during 1, 3, 6 and 10 days of treatment. All patients gave their informed consent to participate in the study. Results: Intensity of pain significantly decreased during the treatment in DENS group (P,remi=0.0001) and did not change in placebo group (P,mui=0.133). The difference between DENS and placebo groups in pain on VAS became statistically significant at 6,h day of treatment (P=0,003). At the end of the treatment VAS pain score was 38.7 mm in the DENS group and 62.0 mm in the placebo-DENS group (P<0.0001). The «stand and go» test significantly improved in DENS group (Ptreiu)=0.001) and was almost stable in placebo-DENS patients (Plremi=0.644). The difference between DENS and placebo-DENS was statistically significant at 10th day of treatment: 9.8 sec vs. 11.43 sec (P=0.001). There was no tendency to diminishing of DENS effect during the treatment (p=0,072 for pain relief, p=0,481 for physical ability).

Conclusion: DENS was superior over placebo in pain relief and physical function in knee OA. The DENS effect did not decrease during the treatment.