Authors (including presenting author) :
Lee, YL (1) Lim HS (1), Chu KL (1), Kwan CY (1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Operating Services, United Christian Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Scrambler Therapy
Keyword 2: :
Chronic Neuropathic Pain
Introduction :
Chronic neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition negatively impacting the physical and psychological health of patients. Treatment for neuropathic pain is an ongoing challenge for clinicians. Scrambler therapy (ST) is a noninvasive electroanalgesia technique developed in the 1990s. It involves administering transcutaneous electrical stimuli which target type C nerve fibers to transmit “non pain” signals and rewire maladaptive pain pathways. A course of therapy typically involves 10 consecutive sessions, each lasting 30-45 minutes. Existing literature shows ST significantly reduced pain and pain interference scores and decreased opioid consumption for over 50% of patients. Despite widespread application internationally, ST remains novel in Hong Kong.
Objectives :
(1) Assess the short- and long-term efficacy of ST; (2) identify demographics and pain etiologies associated with improved functional outcome; (3) provide insight for improved treatment regimens for future patients.
Methodology :
A retrospective study was conducted on patients undergoing ST at United Christian Hospital between 1st August 2025 and 31st December 2025. Pain scores assessed through the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) were collected prior to treatment and after a one-month period. Changes in scores were analyzed using a standard paired-T test. Baseline pain characteristics, demographical data, and treatment data were also collected.
Result & Outcome :
Sixteen patients underwent ST within the specified time-period. Four patients were non-responders or terminated treatment due to personal reasons. At one month, the mean NRS score was reduced from 6.4 to 4.3 (-32.6%) (P< 0.002, paired t-test) following ST. The number of sessions required to achieve sustained pain relief ranged from 5 to 19. Slow responders requiring more than 10 sessions were positively correlated with a longer duration of chronic pain. More relapses were seen with patients treated for post-herpetic neuralgia, who required booster sessions after one month. Medication reduction and improved daily functioning were noted across pain etiologies. No serious adverse events were documented. Scrambler Therapy demonstrated satisfactory results in reduction of neuropathic pain and medication usage. Our results indicate the viability of ST as a safe option for chronic pain management which decreases costs and obviates further interventional pain procedures. Treatment for slow responders and those requiring booster sessions is an area for further research.
