NCT07340307

Application Effects of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture in Patients With Different Types of Pain Following Perianal Surgery

Application of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture in Patients With Different Types of Pain Following Perianal Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 58 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The Affiliated Hospital of Putian University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study is a prospective clinical observation designed to evaluate the analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture in patients with different types of pain after perianal surgery, as well as its applicability. A total of 60 eligible postoperative patients were enrolled, with inclusion criteria including age 18-75 years, postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score ≥4, clear consciousness, and signed informed consent. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, history of needle fainting, skin lesions at the wrist or ankle, severe systemic diseases, inability to cooperate with follow-up, or participation in other clinical trials. Patients were divided into two groups according to the nature of pain: Group A (sphincter spasm pain, n=30) and Group B (acute incisional pain, n=30). All patients received routine postoperative care (including intravenous flurbiprofen infusion, traditional Chinese medicine soaking, and pain education), and wrist-ankle acupuncture was administered when pain intensity (Verbal Rating Scale, VRS) reached ≥4. The acupuncture method involved superficial subcutaneous insertion in zones 1 and 6 of both lower limbs using disposable sterile needles (0.25 mm × 25 mm). Needles were retained for 0.5-1 hour, once daily, with the treatment course adjusted based on symptom relief. If the VAS score remained ≥4 at 30 minutes post-treatment, adjunctive analgesic medication was administered as prescribed. Observation indicators included postoperative VRS scores, reduction in VAS scores at 5 and 30 minutes after wrist-ankle acupuncture treatment, frequency of analgesic medication use within the first 3 postoperative days, and the Clinical Postoperative Urinary Retention (POUR) score at 24 hours post-surgery. By comparing data between the two groups, the analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture was analyzed, and the influence of postoperative pain on the occurrence of urinary retention was explored.

Conditions

• Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	wrist-ankle acupuncture	Patients received routine postoperative care, including intravenous infusion of flurbiprofen (50 mg, twice daily), herbal sitz baths, and pain management education. When a patient's Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) score reached ≥4 points, Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture therapy was administered. The procedure involved superficial subcutaneous insertion of disposable sterile needles (0.25 mm × 25 mm) at zones 1 and 6 of both lower limbs. The needle body was inserted subcutaneously, leaving approximately 1-2 mm exposed externally, with the aim of avoiding the induction of soreness, numbness, distension, or pain. Needles were retained for 0.5-1 hour, with treatment administered once daily. The treatment course was adjusted based on the degree of symptom relief. If the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score remained ≥4 points 30 minutes after initiating Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture treatment, analgesic medication was administered as prescribed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-25
• Primary completion: 2026-08-24
• Completion: 2026-10-24
• First posted: 2026-01-14
• Last updated: 2026-01-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China