Auricular Acupuncture for Analgesia During Total Hip Arthroplasty

Auricular Acupuncture (AA) vs. Sham Acupuncture for Complementary Analgesia During Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim is to investigate whether auricular acupuncture is superior to sham acupuncture in relief of acute pain and in reduction of analgesics in patients during total hip arthroplasty

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I to III scheduled for elective hip arthroplasty because of degenerative osteoarthritis under general anesthesia.
2. Surgery time does not exceed 100 minutes.
3. Patients without previous opioid medication.
4. Patients ranged 45-85 years old.
5. Patients who have given informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or nursing females.
2. Recidivist alcoholics.
3. Local or systemic infection.
4. Age < 45 and > 85 years.
5. Surgery time more than 100 minutes.
6. Intraoperative complications (bleeding, required blood transfusion more than 4 units of packed cells , cardiovascular instability, required catecholamines).
7. Patients consumed opioid medication before surgery.
8. Patients with prosthetic or damaged cardiac valves.
9. Patients who are unable to understand the consent form.
10. History of psychiatric disease.