ACUPUNCTURE AGAINST POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AF TER TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT - A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL ON IMMEDIATE EFFECTS

The analgetic effect of acupuncture in the postoperative period after total knee replacement was studied in a randomised placebo-controlled single-blind trial with cross-over in 50 patients. The patients of the acupuncture group (true treatment group) received a single-session, s ingle-point acupuncture with manual stimulation of the needle. We used a special distal point for knee pain located on the homolateral arm a ccording to the rules of traditional chinese acupuncture. Considering recent concepts and methods for the evaluation of therapeutic acupunct ure, the patients of the placebo group (control group) underwent a sim ulated acupucture were the needle was not inserted into the patient. P ain before and after treatment was assessed using the visual analogue scale. Following acupuncture pain reduction was found to be 22% and 36 % after 30 minutes. At both times the difference to the placebo group was highly significant (p<0,001). Furthermore the results of pain redu ction during 24 hours indicate that there might be a several hours las ting intrisic analgetic effect of acupuncture.