Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation after major amputation.

We studied the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on stump healing and postoperative and late phantom pain after major amputations of the lower limb. A total of 51 patients were randomised to one of three postoperative treatment regimens: sham TENS and chlorpromazine medication, sham TENS only, and active low frequency TENS. There were fewer re-amputations and more rapid stump healing among below-knee amputees who had received active TENS. Sham TENS had a considerable placebo effect on pain. There were, however, no significant differences in the analgesic requirements or reported prevalence of phantom pain between the groups during the first four weeks. The prevalence of phantom pain after active TENS was significantly lower after four months but not after more than one year.