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Effect of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture on Postoperative Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) in pain and functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

From June to September 2020, 94 participants were included from the Second Hospital of Tangshan and randomly assigned to the WAA group (47 cases) and the sham WAA group (47 cases) by a random number table, receiving real or sham WAA treatment, respectively. The primary outcome measure involved the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at rest and in motion. The secondary outcomes involved the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joints, straight-leg raising time, postoperative weight-bearing time, sufentanil consumption within 48 h of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications.

Results

The VAS scores on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th postoperative days at rest and in motion was significantly lower in the WAA group than that of the sham WAA group (P<0.01). The ROM on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd PODs was significantly higher in the WAA group than that of the sham WAA group (P<0.01). In comparison to the sham WAA group, the sufentanil consumption within 48 h of PCA pump was significantly less in the WAA group (156.3 ± 12.2 µg vs. 128.8 ± 9.8 µg, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in active straight-leg raising time, postoperative weight-bearing time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusions

WAA could alleviate post-TKA pain, improve knee joint function, and reduce the sufentanil consumption within 48 h of PCA pump. WAA is a safe and effective treatment in the perioperative analgesic management for TKA.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma, the Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan, Hebei Province, 063000, China

    Hai-tao Cao

  2. Department of Medical Service, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei Province, 063000, China

    Wan Zhang

  3. Department of Geriatric Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan, Hebei Province, 063000, China

    Cheng Luo

  4. Department of Joint Surgery, the Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan, Hebei Province, 063000, China

    Hong-bo Zhao

  5. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangshan People’s Hospital, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei Province, 063000, China

    Jian-ming Liu

Authors
  1. Hai-tao Cao
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  2. Wan Zhang
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  3. Cheng Luo
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  4. Hong-bo Zhao
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  5. Jian-ming Liu
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Contributions

Cao HT were responsible for design of the study. Zhang W drafted the manuscript. Cao HT, Luo C and Zhao HB performed the experiments. Liu JM participated in critical revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hai-tao Cao.

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All the authors have no possible conflicts of interest.

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Cao, Ht., Zhang, W., Luo, C. et al. Effect of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture on Postoperative Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 29, 253–257 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3463-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3463-5

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