Contact dermatitis after transcutaneous electric analgesia.

Transcutaneous electric analgesia, based on the gate control theory, is used in stump pain, lumbar pain, traumatic pain following nerve damage and sciatic neuralgia. 3 patients using this method, showed contact dermatitis at the sites of contact of the electrodes. Patch tests were positive with the electrolyte gel, and in 2 cases, with propylene glycol. Transcutaneous electric analgesia may cause a certain number of side effects similar to those encountered with electrocardiography.