Randomized controlled trial of a special acupuncture technique for pain after thoracotomy

ObjectiveWe sought to determine whether an acupuncture technique specially developed for a surgical oncology population (intervention) reduces pain or analgesic use after thoracotomy compared with a sham acupuncture technique (control).MethodsOne hundred sixty-two patients with cancer undergoing thoracotomy were randomized to group A (preoperative implantation of small intradermal needles that were retained for 4 weeks) or group B (preoperative placement of sham needles at the same schedule). The numeric rating scale of pain and total opioid use was evaluated during the in-patient stay, and the Brief Pain Inventory and Medication Quantification Scale were evaluated after discharge up to 3 months after the operation.ResultsThe principal analysis, a comparison of Brief Pain Inventory pain intensity scores at the 30-day follow-up, showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups. Pain scores were marginally higher in the intervention group (0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.74 to −0.64; P = .9). There were also no statistically significant differences between groups for secondary end points, including chronic pain assessments at 60 and 90 days, in-patient pain, and medication use in the hospital and after discharge.ConclusionA special acupuncture technique, as provided in this study, did not reduce pain or use of pain medication after thoracotomy more than a sham technique.