[Pain relief through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Results on painful neurological disorders in 180 cases (author's transl)].

A series of 180 patients with painful neurological disorders were treated with TENS. The findings most frequently encountered when the treatment was successful are analyzed. Depending upon the etiology of the primary disorder, good results (i.e. pain relief of 20% or higher) were obtained as follows : -- Peripheral Nerve Involvement : Amputation - 35 cases; Traumatism - 13 cases ; Miscellaneous - 7 cases. (87 %). -- Radicular Syndromes : Epidural scar and/or Arachnoiditis - 19 cases; Miscellaneous - 9 cases. (60 %). -- Post Herpetic Pain : 34 cases. (67 %). -- Brachial Plexus Lesions (Avulsions) : 12 cases. (25 %). -- Spinal Cord Disorders : 17 cases. (11 %). --Thalamic Pain : 5 cases. (0 %). -- Post-Radiation Pain or Carcinomatous Pain : 16 cases. (30 %). Satisfactory long-term results (over 3 years) were maintained in 80 % of cases of peripheral nerve involvement. In all other cases the percentage of pain relief decreased with follow-up. In this series the likelyhood of good results was associated with the following objective data : 1) Pain is generally secondary to deafferentation. 2) Pain is localized. 3) TENS application in close contact with the nervous structure innervating the painful area is more productive. 4) A relative preservation of lemniscal fibers to superior centers must be present so that stimulation can be transmitted.