Peripheral Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Neuropathies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this review is to demonstrate the use of Peripheral Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS), together with its most up-to-date protocols, for the treatment of neuropathies.

Design: We conducted a systematic search for randomised clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of PENS on pain intensity, sleep quality, oral analgesic intake and depression in patients with neuropathic pain.

Data sources: The search was performed in Pubmed, PEDro and Cochrane databases.

Analysis methods: The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. The mean difference was applied for variables with the same measurement scale, while the standardized mean difference was used for different scales. The inverse variance method was employed for statistical analysis, with heterogeneity assessed using the I² and Cochrane Q statistics.

Results: Four articles that met the search requirements were included. After qualitative and quantitative synthesis, the results obtained were an improvement in pain intensity (-3.57 [-4.01, -3.13]; p < .05) and sleep quality (2.48 [1.96, 3.00]; p < .05) and a reduction in medication intake (-2.37 [-4.26, -0.47]; p < .05) and depressive behaviours (-1.10 [-1.55, -0.66]; p < .05). The overall methodological quality was rated as moderate and the risk of bias as unclear.

Conclusions: The scientific evidence found is still limited for the use of PENS in neuropathies. However, this study suggests an encouraging future for the use of this therapy as a treatment tool in physiotherapy.

Nursing practice implications: PENS requires nurse education on electrode/needle placement and patient instruction, with documentation of key parameters. This review emphasizes the need for further research to establish standardized protocols and optimal application parameters for different neuropathic pain conditions.