Acupuncture helps reduce post operative pain after total knee replacement: Study

Alternative medicine are used as therapies for treating various diseases. Acupuncture is one of the age old healing practice of traditional Chinese medicine in which thin needles are placed at specific points in the body. A recent study by Hsing Fang Ko investgated pain management in post operative patients after total knee replacement. The study is published in journal of pain medicine.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of acupuncture after total knee replacement by systematic review.

The researchers conducted randomized controlled trials in five English medical electronic databases and five Chinese databases. Two reviewers independently searched in five English medical electronic databases and five Chinese databases. Two reviewers independently retrieved related studies, assessed the methodological quality, and extracted data with a standardized data form. Meta-analyses were performed with all-time-points meta-analysis.

The researchers found that out of a total of seven studies with 891 participants included. The meta-analysis results indicated that acupuncture had a statistically significant influence on pain relief (standardized mean difference = −0.705, 95% CI −1.027 to −0.382, P = 0.000). The subgroup analysis results showed that acupuncture's effects on analgesia had a statistically significant influence (standardized mean difference= −0.567, 95% CI −0.865 to −0.269, P = 0.000). The main acupuncture points that produced an analgesic effect when they were used after total knee replacement included the Xuehai, Liangqiu, Dubi, Neixiyan, Yanglingquan, and Zusanli points. Electroacupuncture frequency ranged between 2 and 100 Hz.

The researchers concluded that "As an adjunct modality, the use of acupuncture is associated with reduced pain and use of analgesic medications in postoperative patients. In particular, ear acupuncture 1 day before surgery could reduce analgesia." Alternative medicine is still an option in treating pain.

For further information: https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnab201