Abstract
Study design
A single-blind crossover study.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) after the application of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS).
Setting
Outpatient Clinic of the Rehabilitation Department, Seoul National University Hospital.
Methods
The effect of single sessions of both anodal and sham tsDCS (2 mA, 20 min) on chronic neuropathic pain in ten volunteers with complete motor cervical SCI was assessed. The active electrode was placed over the spinal process of the tenth thoracic vertebra and the reference electrode, at the top of the head. Pre- to post-tsDCS intervention changes in pain intensity (numeric rating scale, NRS), patient global assessment, and present pain intensity (PPI) were assessed before and after the tsDCS session (immediately post stimulation, and at 1 and 2 h post stimulation).
Results
All participants underwent the stimulation procedure without dropout. Our results showed no significant pre- to post-treatment difference in pain intensity between the active and sham tsDCS groups. Only in the sham tsDCS stimulation, NRS and PPI scores were reduced after the stimulation session. Furthermore, in the mixed effect model analysis, the response in the second period appeared to be more favorable.
Conclusion
The results suggest that a single session of anodal tsDCS with the montage used in this study is feasible but does not have a significant analgesic effect in individuals with chronic cervical SCI.
Sponsorship
The study was funded by Seoul National University Hospital (No. 0420160470) and Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Division of Medical Statistics, Medical Research Collaborating Center (MRCC) at Seoul National University Hospital for their support for statistical analyses.
Funding
This study was funded by Seoul National University Hospital (No. 0420160470) and Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service.
Author contributions
YAC was responsible for designing the study, collecting data, extracting and analyzing data, interpreting results, and writing the report. YK was responsible for collecting data. HIS was responsible for designing the study, collecting data, interpreting the results, and writing the report. He provided feedback on the report and approved the final version.
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The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Seoul National University Hospital (identifier number: 1604-007-752). We certify that all applicable institutional and governmental regulations concerning the ethical use of human volunteers were followed during the course of this research.
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Choi, YA., Kim, Y. & Shin, HI. Pilot study of feasibility and effect of anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation on chronic neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 57, 461–470 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-019-0244-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-019-0244-x
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