Effects of Acupuncture on Postoperative Pain After Total Knee Replacement: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective To identify the analgesic effectiveness of acupuncture after total knee replacement by systematic review. Methods A search of randomized controlled trials was conducted in five English medical electronic databases and five Chinese databases. Two reviewers independently searched in five English medical electronic databases and five Chinese databases. Two reviewers independently retrieved related studies, assessed the methodological quality, and extracted data with a standardized data form. Meta-analyses were performed with all-time-points meta-analysis. Results A total of seven studies with 891 participants were included. The meta-analysis results indicated that acupuncture had a statistically significant influence on pain relief (standardized mean difference = −0.705, 95% CI −1.027 to −0.382, P = 0.000). The subgroup analysis results showed that acupuncture’s effects on analgesia had a statistically significant influence (standardized mean difference= −0.567, 95% CI −0.865 to −0.269, P = 0.000). The main acupuncture points that produced an analgesic effect when they were used after total knee replacement included the Xuehai, Liangqiu, Dubi, Neixiyan, Yanglingquan, and Zusanli points. Electroacupuncture frequency ranged between 2 and 100 Hz. Conclusions As an adjunct modality, the use of acupuncture is associated with reduced pain and use of analgesic medications in postoperative patients. In particular, ear acupuncture 1 day before surgery could reduce analgesia .