Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of interferential current implementation following total knee arthroplasty surgery. Design: Double-blind randomized controlled study. Setting: Orthopedics and traumatology in-patient clinic. Participants: From an initial enrollment of 132 patients, 113 who met the study inclusion criteria were randomly separated into two groups: the interferential current group (n = 57) and the sham current group (n = 56). A total of 98 patients completed the study: 49 in the interferential current group and 49 in the sham group. Intervention: Patients in the interferential current group received interferential current treatment for 30 minutes, twice a day for five days postoperatively. For the patients in the sham interferential current treatment group, the same pads were applied to the patients for the same time periods but no electrical stimulation was applied. Main outcome measures: Patients were assessed in respect of pain, range of motion (ROM), edema, and the amount of paracetamol used at baseline and on the 5th and 30th days after surgery. Results: No significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of pain, ROM, and edema at days 0, 5, and 30. At the end of the 5th day, the amount of paracetamol used was significantly lower in the interferential current group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, both groups showed significant improvements in pain, ROM, and edema with no significant difference between the groups. Although there was a significant difference in paracetamol intake of the two groups, this cannot be argued as showing the effectiveness of interferential current.

BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis is a current problem that causes limitations in patients' activities of Daily living (1). There are many therapeutic options. Total knee arthroplasty is one of these treatment methods.Postoperative pain is one of the most commonly seen problems after this operation.The target of postoperative pain management is pain alleviation with minimum morbidity that is caused by analgesic modalities (2). Interferential current (IFC) therapy is a physical modality whose effects on postoperative pain, range of motion, edema and analgesic use has previously been shown (3).ObjectivesIn this double-blind randomized controlled study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of interferential current (IFC) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgeryMethods98 patients who had TKA surgery were included into the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: Group 1: IFC (n=49) and group 2: sham IFC group (n=49). After all patients received the same rehabilitation programme and cold pack, the patients in group 1 administered IFC 30 minutes 2 times a day for 5 days. Same treatment instructions were given in sham group blindly. Patients were assessed at days 0, 5 and 30th after surgery with following parameters: VAS pain (cm), edema (cm), range of motion (ROM), Short Form 36 (SF 36) and paracetamol intake (gr)ResultsAll patients had significant improvements in all evaluation parameters (p<0,05) except the subscales of the physical role and mental health in the SF 36. In comparison of the groups, paracetamol intake was significantly lower in the IFC group at 5th day (p<0.05). There was no difference between groups for other evaluation parameters in all visits.ConclusionsAlthough all patients showed significant improvement in all parameters during the study, paracetamol intake was significantly lower in the IFC group. This finding supports that IFC can decrease pain -even postoperative pain-. However, it is still uncertain which frequency is most suitable, how many times and how much minutes we need to use IFC in these patients in order to improve pain significantly.ReferencesGuyton J. Arthroplasty of ankle and knee. In: Canale S, editor. Campbell's operative orthopaedics. St. Louis: Mosby; 1998.p.232–95.Hedenstierna G, Lofstrom J. Effect of anaesthesia on respiratory function after major lower extremity surgery. A comparison between bupivacaine spinal analgesia with low-dose morphine and general anaesthesia. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1985;29: 55–60.Jarit GJ, Mohr KJ, Waller R, Glousman RE. The effects of home interferential therapy on postoperative pain, edema, and range of motion of the knee. Clin J Sport Med 2003;13: 16–20.Disclosure of InterestNone declared