Feasibility of Using the Neuropen for Temporal Summation Testing

Abstract

Aim: This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of measuring pinprick temporal summation (TS) with the Neuropen, a cheap and accessible device. Methods: Ten asymptomatic participants underwent TS testing using the Neuropen and answered a tolerability questionnaire. Results were compared against reference values, averaging three and five TS tests. Tolerability was assessed qualitatively. Results: The TS results were similar to reference values, with less overall variability. Averaging three versus five tests produced similar results with high correlation. The mean unpleasantness score was low. Conclusion: The Neuropen appears to be suitable for eliciting TS, using an average of three measurements, and has acceptable tolerability. This pilot study was used to inform the use of the Neuropen for measuring TS in subsequent clinical studies.

Keywords::

• pain assessment
• quantitative sensory testing
• temporal summation

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the design of the study. SL Aspinall performed recruitment, data collection and data analysis. SL Aspinall wrote the draft manuscript and performed revisions, with significant input from all authors at each stage. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded by an intramural grant from Murdoch University. The funding source had no input in planning, data collection, data analysis or manuscript preparation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors obtained ethical approval from the Murdoch University Human Research Ethics Committee (approval 2016/158). The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by an intramural grant from Murdoch University. The funding source had no input in planning, data collection, data analysis or manuscript preparation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.