Abstract
[Objective]Esthesia and algesthia quantitative analyzers (PainVision®) are instruments that enables us to objectively assess the pain intensity. By applying an electrical current we can measure the intensity of pre-existing pain (pain equivalent current) and the minimum electrical stimulation that can be sensed by the patient (minimum perceptible current). In this study, we used PainVision®to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with chronic pain and compared pain-related parameters with the Visual analogue scale (VAS).
[Methods]Twenty-three patients (4 males, 19 females;median age of 68) with chronic pain were studied. Pain degree was evaluated by the following equation;
Pain degree = 100 x (pain equivalent current -minimum perceptible current)/minimum perceptible current.
Pain degree was compared with VAS at pre-and post-acupuncture treatment.
[Results]VAS, pain degree and pain equivalent current by PainVision®decreased significantly after acupuncture treatment (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Minimum perceptible current did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Pain degree and VAS had relatively high correlation coefficients at pre-and post-treatment (r = 0.52, p < 0.05 and 0.47, p < 0.05;respectively). Changes in VAS and pain degree agreed in 87%of the cases.
[Conclusions]PainVision®is a useful tool to assess pain intensity objectively, and parameters derived from it correlated well with VAS. In patients with chronic pain, acupuncture treatment can be evaluated by PainVision®.
