Acupuncture for pain after total knee replacement

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Adults having elective unilateral total knee replacement for primary osteoarthritis will receive acupuncture in the perioperative period alongside standard anesthetic care, with clinical assessments and blood tests for inflammatory biomarkers. The primary outcome is pain control at 36–48 hours after surgery, measured together with total opioid consumption, opioid-related side effects, time out of bed, and patient satisfaction. Secondary outcomes include medium- and long-term functional scores and the modulation of systemic inflammatory markers at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to explore links with chronic pain and joint stiffness. The protocol aims to determine whether acupuncture's analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects lead to faster rehabilitation and lower rates of chronic postoperative pain and stiffness.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged \> 18 years
* Patients capable of providing informed consent
* Unilateral total knee replacement surgery
* Indication for surgery: primary osteoarthritis degeneration
* Surgery performed electively

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged \< 18 years
* Patients incapable of providing informed consent
* Patients with ASA class \> 3
* Pregnant women
* Patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders
* Patients with active infection under antibiotic treatment
* Patients on chronic opioid therapy
* Patients on chronic biological drug therapy
* Patients with a history of corticosteroid use in the six months prior to surgery
* Patients with a history of periarticular infiltration in the three months prior to surgery
* Patients in whom loco-regional anesthesia is contraindicated
* Patients in whom NSAID, cortisone, and paracetamol therapy is contraindicated
* Bilateral total knee replacement surgery or prosthetic revision surgeries
* Indication for surgery for causes other than primary osteoarthritis degeneration

Where it's running

• Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo - SC AR3 - Anestesia e Terapia Intensiva Postchirurgica
  Pavia, Pavia, Italy Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Debora Passador, MD
• Email: d.passador@smatteo.pv.it
• Phone: +390382502767

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.