Thirty-nine healthy subjects, aged 18 to 40 years, assigned to treatment (n=19) and control (n=20) groups.
Sample Count
39
Age
18-40
Control
Placebo
control group(n=20)
Experiment
treatment group(n=19)
Indicator
Time until moderate painTime until medication useTotal pain reliefPain half goneTotal pain medication consumption
Auxiliary Medication
All patients were given the same local anesthetic of 3% mepivacaine hydrochloride (Carbocaine) without any vasoconstrictor. If a patient indicated no pain relief 30 minutes after the treatment, or if the intensity of pain increased, a standard analgesic medication(acetaminophen,600mg, with codeine, 60 mg) was administered at the patient's request.
Stimulation Method
MS
Induction Method
Electroacupuncture Instrument Model
Manufacturer
Frequency
Waveform
Strength
Induction Time
-
-
20 to 30 seconds 3 times
-
-
20 min
Acupuncture_Needle
Needle_Manufacturer
Needle_Depth
-
-
-
Description All needles remained in place for 20 minutes, and each was manually manipulated (no electrical stimulation was applied) for 20 to 30 seconds 3 times: immediately after insertion, at the midpoint, and at the end of treatment. The "de qi" sensation (a sensation of soreness, numbness, or distention at the needling site) was obtained for each manipulation.
Anesthesia Method
AA
Clinical Trial Type
random
Contraindications
Women who were pregnant or lactating
Effector
Mean pain-free postoperative time was significantly longer in the acupuncture group (172.9 minutes) than in the placebo group (93.8 minutes) (P=.01), as was time until moderate pain (P=.008). Mean number of minutes before requesting pain rescue medication was significantly longer in the treatment group (242.1 minutes) than in the placebo group (166.2 minutes) (P=.01), as was time until medication use (P=.01). Average pain medication consumption was significantly less in the treatment group (1.1 tablets) than in the placebo group (1.65 tablets) (P=.05). There were no significant between-groups differences on total-pain-relief scores or pain-half-gone scores (P>.05). Nearly half or more of all patients were uncertain of or incorrect about their group assignment. Outcomes were not associated with psychological factors in multivariate models.
Evaluation of acupuncture for pain control after oral surgery: a placebo-controlled trial.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is increasingly being used by the general population and investigated by conventional medicine; however, studies of its effects on pain still lack adequate control procedures. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the (1) efficacy of Chinese acupuncture in treating postoperative oral surgery pain, (2) validity of a placebo-controlled procedure, and (3) effects of psychological factors on outcomes. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Dental School Outpatient Clinic, University of Maryland at Baltimore. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine healthy subjects, aged 18 to 40 years, assigned to treatment (n=19) and control (n=20) groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' self-reports of time until moderate pain, time until medication use, total pain relief, pain half gone, and total pain medication consumption. RESULTS: Mean pain-free postoperative time was significantly longer in the acupuncture group (172.9 minutes) than in the placebo group (93.8 minutes) (P=.01), as was time until moderate pain (P=.008). Mean number of minutes before requesting pain rescue medication was significantly longer in the treatment group (242.1 minutes) than in the placebo group (166.2 minutes) (P=.01), as was time until medication use (P=.01). Average pain medication consumption was significantly less in the treatment group (1.1 tablets) than in the placebo group (1.65 tablets) (P=.05). There were no significant between-groups differences on total-pain-relief scores or pain-half-gone scores (P>.05). Nearly half or more of all patients were uncertain of or incorrect about their group assignment. Outcomes were not associated with psychological factors in multivariate models. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture is superior to the placebo in preventing postoperative dental pain; noninsertion placebo procedure is valid as a control."
Souce
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 May;125(5):567-72. doi: 10.1001/archotol.125.5.567.
