NCT06564506

Electroacupuncture for Preventing Postoperative Delirium in Older Adults Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Electroacupuncture for Preventing Postoperative Delirium in Older Adults Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1,460 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Fujian Provincial Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Electroacupuncture may improve cognitive function and altered consciousness, but its effect on postoperative delirium in older arthroplasty patients remains unexplored. This study aims to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture in preventing postoperative delirium in older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Detailed description

Electroacupuncture combines traditional acupuncture with electrical stimulation at specific body points. Recent clinical studies have shown promising results for acupuncture-related techniques in managing perioperative neurocognitive disorders. However, the efficacy of electroacupuncture in preventing postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty remains unexplored.This randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture in preventing postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Conditions

• Postoperative Delirium

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Disposable acupuncture needles (0.30 × 75 mm)	Disposable acupuncture needles (0.30 × 75 mm), placebo needles (0.30 × 25 mm) and SDZ-V electroacupuncture devices (Hwato, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co Ltd, China) will be used. Electrodes attached to the needle handles will deliver stimulation for 30 minutes (2 Hz/15 Hz frequency, 1 mA intensity) to cause mild skin movement without pain.
DEVICE	Placebo needles (0.30 × 25 mm)	Disposable acupuncture needles (0.30 × 75 mm), placebo needles (0.30 × 25 mm) and SDZ-V electroacupuncture devices (Hwato, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co Ltd, China) will be used. Sham electroacupuncture will use blunt-tipped placebo needles without current output, which retract into their handles to simulate skin insertion.
DEVICE	SDZ-V electroacupuncture devices	Disposable acupuncture needles (0.30 × 75 mm), placebo needles (0.30 × 25 mm) and SDZ-V electroacupuncture devices (Hwato, Suzhou Medical Supplies Factory Co Ltd, China) will be used. Electrodes attached to the needle handles will deliver stimulation for 30 minutes (2 Hz/15 Hz frequency, 1 mA intensity) to cause mild skin movement without pain.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-10
• Primary completion: 2026-08-30
• Completion: 2026-08-30
• First posted: 2024-08-21
• Last updated: 2025-09-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China