OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate pain-diminishing and quality of life-related outcomes of Kinesio Taping in patients on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy for post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2016 and May 2017, a total 60 patients (39 males, 21 females; median age 43.5 years; range 18 to 76 years) with PTPS were included in this single-center, prospective, randomized study. The patients were randomized into two groups based on five-day pain management protocol including NSAIDs per se (NSAID group; n = 30) and NSAIDs plus Kinesio Taping (NSAID+KT group; n = 30) groups. Pain intensity (via visual pain scale (VAS)), neuropathic pain (Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale), major chronic pain symptoms (via Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2)), and quality of life (via Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)) were assessed before and after five-day treatment period. RESULTS: In both NSAID and NSAID+KT groups, treatment was associated with a significant decrease in the VAS-pain (p < 0.001), LANSS Pain Scale scores (from median 8.0 to 3.0 and from median 18.5 to 15.0, respectively, p < 0.001 for each), SF-MPQ scores (p < 0.001), and physical mobility and pain domains of NHS (p < 0.001 for each). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study findings indicate no additional benefit of KT application on further amelioration of long-term PTPS in patients under NSAID analgesia. Both NSAID and NSAID+KT treatments produced a significant improvement in the VAS, LANSS, SF-MPQ scores, and in the quality of life after five-day treatment.

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