Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Pain Intensity and Quality of Burn Dressing

Background and The most experienced pain of burn injuries occur during dressing changes. This pain requires high doses of opioids. Some evidences suggest that changes in cortical irritability, cathodal somatosensory cortex stimulation, could be effective in relieving acute pain. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on quality of pain in burn dressing. A randomized clinical trial including 60 eligible patients hospitalized in burn department of Imam Reza (AS) Hospital in Mashhad were divided into two groups through accessible sampling. In intervention group, patients received cathodal somatosensory cortex stimulation for 20 minutes with one mA current intensity before dressing change in addition to receiving painkillers (if necessary). The treatment protocol was performed in the control group too, however, the tDCS device was turned off after 30 seconds of stimulation. Pain visual analog scale was completed before the intervention and short and modified-form McGill pain questionnaire was applied after dressing. Data was analyzed by Chi-square, independent t-test and Mann- Whitney tests using SPSS software V. 11. There was no significant difference in background pain intensity before the intervention (P=0.088). Significant differences was found between the two groups in the mean scores of sensory, affective, and total pain quality during the burn dressing (P<0.05). Also, pain intensity of during dressing was significantly different between the control and intervention groups (P<0.001). However, in two groups the results showed no significant difference when comparing the pain pattern of burn dressing (P =0.145). Transcranial direct current stimulation alongside other methods could be used as a safe and effective intervention for reducing the intensity of pain in burn dressing.