[Electrotherapy of pain relief using the Tenzcare stimulator. A clinico-experimental study]

Electrotherapy was introduced into the aftercare programme for patients with serial rib fractures in the acute stage, shoulder injuries or fractures of the radius. Electrical stimulation was carried out with the Tenzcare Nr. 6240 apparatus. The results were significantly better in each of the three groups than in the respective control group. Patients after thorax trauma complained less of pain in the acute phase: there was less pulmonary secretion on X-ray and, on average, their blood gas values returned to normal three days earlier. None of them required assisted respiration. Patients with shoulder injuries or fractures of the radius complained less frequently of pain during physio-therapy after removal of their plaster casts. They attained their optimum range of movement on average ten and eight days earlier, respectively than the controls.