Auricular Acupuncture as Part of Multimodal Analgesia After Lower Leg Fracture
Pain, Postoperative, Fracture, Ankle, Pilon Fracture of Tibia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Pain, Postoperative
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Patient ages 18-64 American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Status I, II or III Inpatients scheduled to undergo ankle ORIF at Harris Health System Ben Taub Hospital Exclusion Criteria: Renal dysfunction (Serum Cr > 1.2) - excluded due to potential altered metabolism of anesthetic and perioperative medications Allergy to any of the standard anesthetic agents Patient inability to properly communicate with investigators (language barrier, dementia, delirium, psychiatric disorder) Patient or surgeon refusal
Sites / Locations
- Ben Taub HospitalRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Electroauricular acupuncture
No acupuncture
Immediately after Level 2 sedation is achieved, an enhanced auricular trauma protocol (ATP) will be administered on the ear ipsilateral to the operative side at 8 ear points (Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Hippocampus, Prefrontal Cortex, Point Zero, Shen Men, Insula, Vagus) as described by Cheng (2022). The original ATP was described by Helms (2011). Seirin L 0.2 x 30 mm needles will be placed at Hypothalamus and Shen Men points. Seirin J 0.18 x 15 mm needles will be placed at Amygdala, Hippocampus, Prefrontal Cortex, Point Zero, Vagus, and Insula points. Electrostimulation using an ITO ES 130 microstimulator at 30 HZ with Level 4 intensity, will be applied with the positive lead (red) on Hypothalamus and negative lead (black) at Shen Men for 60 minutes. All needles will be removed 1 hour after insertion.
No acupuncture treatment given