Transcutaneous auricular stimulation of the vagus nerve for erosive hand osteoarthritis an open label pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: Beyond classical effect on vegetative functions, the activation of the vagus nerve inhibits inflammation and reduces the pain signal. Recently, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) using implantable cervical devices have demonstrated an analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic effect in rheumatoid arthritis. However, the use of such implantable device is limited by the need of cervical surgery and subsequent potential side effects. Besides implantable devices, VNS can also be performed using transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) of the ascendant auricular branch of the vagus nerve that selectively innervates the cutaneous zone of cymba conchae.