Capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy to treat postpartum perineal pain: A randomized study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reduction of perineal pain after vaginal deliveries by capacitive resistive radiofrequency therapy (RF). METHODS: We conducted a double-blind randomized study in University Hospital Centre in France. We included women presenting either perineal tears or an episiotomy after vaginal delivery (instrumental assisted or not). The participants were randomly assigned to RF or not at day 1 and day 2 postpartum. The primary outcome was pain evaluated as visual analog scale (VAS) score >4 at rest on day 2 after the treatment. Secondary outcomes included discomfort and pain while walking and seating two days after treatment, type of pain two days after treatment and analgesics intake two days after treatment, sexual intercourse retake and painful of intercourse were also assessed by phone call 30 days after delivery. We performed univariate analysis and multivariable regressions adjusting on the value of the outcome at baseline to improve precision of the estimated intervention effect. RESULTS: Between June 1, 2017 and October 8, 2017, the RF group included 29 women compared with 31 women in the group without RF. There was no significant difference on VAS >4 between the two groups (13.8% vs. 9.7% p = 0.69; difference = 4.1%, 95%CI -12.2%- 20.4%); consumption of paracetamol was lower in the RF group (978.3 mg (sd = 804.5) vs 1703.7 mg (sd = 1381.6), p = 0.035; difference = -725.3 mg, 95%CI -1359.6 - -91.3). Multivariate analysis showed no association between RF and pain. Nevertheless, we found an association between RF and discomfort while walking (adjusted OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07–0.90; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: VAS>4 at day 2 was not different in the experimental and the control groups but RF was associated with less perineal discomfort while walking and lower consumption of paracetamol after delivery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: The study was registered in the Clinical Government trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03172286?term=bretelle&rank=2) under the number NCT03172286.