Evaluaing the Effects of Electroacupuncture for Postoperative Pain Relief in Patients With Distal Radius Fracture

Single-blinded, randomized preliminary study evaluating the effects of electroacupuncture for postoperative pain relief in patients with distal radius fracture.

Distal radius fracture is extremely common, and it is about 10% of all fractures in the human body. Therefore, the distal radius is the most frequently fractured part of the upper limbs of the human body. Once the fracture occurs, internal fixation is the main surgical procedure. The postoperative analgesic method is generally oral or injection analgesic. In recent years, electroacupuncture(EA) has been widely used to relieve pain after surgery, and many studies have confirmed that it is effective. However, there is no evaluation of analgesic efficacy after the surgery of distal radius fracture. Therefore, it is hoped that the efficacy of EA for analgesia after the surgery of distal radius fracture is demonstrated by this study. And, the investigators also hope the investigators can reduce the use of painkillers through EA.

Methods: It is expected that 30 patients will be randomly assigned to the following groups: EA group,EA at points; non-point group, EA at non-points, control group without EA

1. EA group:EA at points after surgery
2. non-point group: EA at non-points after surgery
3. Control group: no EA

Single-blinded, randomized preliminary study evaluating the effects of electroacupuncture for postoperative pain relief in patients with distal radius fracture.

Distal radius fracture is extremely common, and it is about 10% of all fractures in the human body. Therefore, the distal radius is the most frequently fractured part of the upper limbs of the human body. Once the fracture occurs, internal fixation is the main surgical procedure. The postoperative analgesic method is generally oral or injection analgesic. In recent years, electroacupuncture(EA) has been widely used to relieve pain after surgery, and many studies have confirmed that it is effective. However, there is no evaluation of analgesic efficacy after the surgery of distal radius fracture. Therefore, it is hoped that the efficacy of EA for analgesia after the surgery of distal radius fracture is demonstrated by this study. And, the investigators also hope the investigators can reduce the use of painkillers through EA.

Methods: It is expected that 30 patients will be randomly assigned to the following groups: EA group,EA at points; non-point group, EA at non-points, control group without EA

1. EA group:EA at points after surgery
2. non-point group: EA at non-points after surgery
3. Control group: no EA Mode of operation: After the patient has returned to the recovery room, perfom EA, and take the needle after 30 minutes. Perform another 30 minutes after 24 hours, and then statistics.

Acupoint selection:

1. true acupoints: needles were inserted to Taichong (LR3 ) and Taixi (KI3) contralateral to the operated leg and deqi sensation elicited at acupoints
2. false point: the needles were inserted to Kunlun(BL60) and Shugu(BL65) contralateral to the operated leg and deqi sensation elicited at acupoints

Data collection:

1. Record the time required for the first injection of analgesics
2. The number of doses of oral painkiller used in 36 hours after surgery (count)
3. The number of doses of injection painkiller used in 36 hours after surgery (count)
4. Use the visual analog scale (VAS) to assess the patient's pain level

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Orthopaedic specialist diagnoses distal radius fracture and undergoes internal fixation
* Age between 20 and 70

Exclusion Criteria:

* Allergic to painkillers
* Have a serious heart rhythm
* epilepsy
* Severe pulmonary heart disease
* History of mental illness
* History of drug abuse
* received acupuncture treatment within 1 month