Inefficacy of Kinesio-Taping® on early postoperative pain after ACL reconstruction: Prospective comparative study

IntroductionKinesio-Taping® (K-Tape) is used in sports traumatology with the aim of reducing pain and improving blood and lymph circulation. The main objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of K-Tape on early postoperative pain after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The study hypothesis was that K-Tape significantly decreases pain.MethodA prospective non-randomized comparative study was conducted in 2013–2014 and included all patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction by hamstring graft. Analgesia was standardized. Two groups, “K-Tape” and “controls”, were formed according to the days on which the study physiotherapist was present. The K-Tape compression/decompression assembly was applied immediately postoperatively and maintained for 3 days. Patients filled out online questionnaires. The main assessment criterion was mean postoperative pain (D0–D3) on a 0-to-10 scale. Secondary criteria were analgesia intake on the three WHO levels, awakening during the night of D0 due to pain, signs of postoperative discomfort, and patient satisfaction.ResultsSixty patients (30 per group) were included, 57 of whom could be assessed: 28 K-Tape, 29 controls; 44 male, 13 female; mean age, 30.9 ± 8.9 years. At inclusion, the two groups were comparable. There was no significant difference in mean (D0–D3) knee pain intensity: 3.8 ± 2.2 for K-Tape, and 3.9 ± 2 for controls (P = 0.93). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) found no significant intergroup difference in evolution of pain (P = 0.34). There were no other significant differences on the other assessment criteria.ConclusionK-Tape showed no efficacy on early postoperative pain following ACL reconstruction.Level of evidenceIII; prospective non-randomized comparative study.