Effect of Vibration on Acute and Chronic Back Pain After Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Post-spinal anesthesia back pain often initiates with needle insertion and may persist for months, particularly among young women following cesarean section. Mechanical vibration has been proposed as an effective method to alleviate this pain.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of vibration on reducing pain experienced during needle insertion, as well as its effects one week and one-month post-puncture.

This randomized clinical trial enrolled patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for various surgical procedures. Patients were randomly assigned to either receive routine spinal anesthesia or spinal anesthesia combined with vibration. Demographic data were collected, and pain levels during needle insertion and back pain were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS).

A total of 64 patients were included in the study. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the number of attempts required for needle insertion (P = 0.341), the predominant anatomical level, or the needle approach (midline or paramedian). Ultimately, pain experienced during needle insertion, back pain after one week, and back pain after one month did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.562, P = 0.14, and P = 0.267, respectively).

The results of the present study showed that vibration at the site of needle insertion during spinal anesthesia had no effect on acute and chronic back pain on subsequent follow-up due to spinal anesthesia.