Observation on the effect of neuromuscular stimulation on postnatal early perineal scar pain

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the treatment perineal scar pain in early postpartum. Methods A total of 60 cases of early postpartum perineal scar pain were divided into the observation group and the control group with 30 cases in each group by random digits table method. The control group was given routine nursing. The observation group was treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the basis of routine nursing. The pain and scar of perineum were observed and compared between the 2 groups on the 42nd day, 3rd month, 6th month and 9th month postpartum. Results The pain scores of the observation group on the 42nd day, 3rd month, 6th month and 9th month postpartum were 4.93±0.83, 3.40±0.77, 2.50±0.68, 2.00±0.64 respectively, the pain scores of the control group were 4.83±1.02, 4.53±0.78, 4.47±1.01 and 3.93±0.69 respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in pain score between the two groups on 42nd day postpartum (t=0.417, P>0.05), but there were statistically significant differences in pain scores between the two groups on the 3rd, 6th, 9th months postpartum (t=-5.678, -8.850, -11.212, all P 0.05), but there was statistically significant differences in scar score between the two groups on the 6th and 9th months postpartum (t=-4.447, -5.596, all P<0.05). Conclusions Neuromuscular electrical stimulation can relieve the pain of maternal postpartum perineal scar, promote scar softening and reduce scar hyperplasia. Key words: Postpartum; Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Perineal scar; Pain