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Auriculotherapy for Prolonged Postoperative Pain Management Following Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Randomized,

Jacques E Chelly1,2, Steven L Orebaugh1, Mark W Rodosky3

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

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Summary

Active auriculotherapy (AT) significantly reduced opioid consumption by 35% in patients after rotator cuff surgery. This non-opioid treatment also improved pain and patient satisfaction, offering a promising alternative for postoperative pain management.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Pain Management
  • Surgical Recovery
  • Integrative Medicine

Background:

  • Prolonged pain following rotator cuff surgery often necessitates opioid analgesics.
  • Opioid use carries risks, including the development of opioid use disorder.
  • Effective non-opioid strategies are needed to manage postoperative pain and reduce opioid dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of active auriculotherapy (AT) in reducing opioid consumption after rotator cuff surgery.
  • To evaluate the impact of AT on pain levels, functional recovery, and patient satisfaction.
  • To determine if AT can serve as an alternative to opioids for postoperative pain management.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 50 patients undergoing rotator cuff surgery.
  • Patients were assigned to either an active auriculotherapy (AT) group or a placebo (P) group.
  • Primary endpoint: total opioid consumption in the first five days post-surgery; secondary endpoints included pain, functional recovery, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

  • Active auriculotherapy significantly decreased opioid consumption by 35% (p=0.0307).
  • Patients receiving AT reported significantly lower pain with movement at 14 days (p=0.0394).
  • AT was associated with increased patient satisfaction at 90 days (p=0.0267) without affecting discharge time or functional recovery.

Conclusions:

  • Active auriculotherapy using cryogenic needles and nine ear points is effective in reducing postoperative opioid requirements in opioid-naïve patients.
  • AT offers a viable non-pharmacological approach to manage pain and decrease opioid reliance after rotator cuff surgery.
  • The findings support the integration of AT into multimodal pain management strategies for orthopedic procedures.