Nonthermal surgical complications in burn patients

The use of TENS for pruritus relief in the burns patient: an individual case report

The case report outlines the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for the relief of pruritus in a 19-year-old patient who had sustained 70% mixed-thickness flame burns. Once healed, two electrodes were applied to the region of most severe itching, which was the lumbar spine. They were applied at 10 AM and remained in place until he went to bed. A visual analog scale (VAS) rating of itching was used to measure the sensation subjectively before application, immediately after application, and 4 hours after continuous application. Readings were taken for 5 consecutive days and then followed up during a 2-week period. At this time the patient discontinued the use of TENS, because itching had decreased significantly. Results showed that between day 1 and day 16 there was a 50% improvement before application and a 100% improvement 4 hours after application of TENS. These results suggest that a study to investigate the effect of TENS for the relief of pruritus in the burn patient would be justified to provide an alternative, noninvasive treatment approach.