Knee herbal acupuncture for acute traffic-accident knee pain
The Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmacopuncture on Inpatients With Acute Knee Pain Caused by Traffic Accidents : A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
This will test whether knee herbal acupuncture, alone or together with usual oriental medicine care, can reduce acute knee pain in adults hospitalized after a traffic accident.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 19 Years to 69 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Jaseng Medical Foundation Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Daejeon) |
| Trial ID | NCT06931951 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This inpatient, comparative interventional study enrolls adults hospitalized with acute knee pain (NRS ≥5) occurring within 14 days of a traffic accident and randomizes them to receive knee pharmacoacupuncture versus integrated oriental medicine treatment strategies. Treatments are delivered during the hospital stay and patients are monitored for changes in pain intensity and for adverse events. The primary outcome is change in pain score, with safety and tolerability recorded throughout the treatment period. The trial aims to provide practical, real-world data on how adding knee herbal acupuncture compares with existing integrated oriental approaches.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 19–70 who are hospitalized for a traffic-accident-related knee injury, have acute knee pain within 14 days with an NRS score of 5 or higher, and consent to participate are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with specific serious causes of knee pain (acute fractures, dislocations, complete ligament ruptures), systemic diseases causing pain (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, tumors), or those needing surgical intervention are unlikely to benefit and are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide faster pain relief and a non-surgical option to reduce acute knee pain after traffic accidents.
How similar studies have performed: Small trials and case reports of pharmacopuncture for musculoskeletal pain show some positive signals, but high-quality randomized evidence remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * When the NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) of knee pain caused by a traffic accident is 5 or higher. * Patients hospitalized for traffic accident treatment. * Patients with acute pain within 14 days of experiencing knee pain due to a traffic accident. * Patients aged between 19 and 70 years old. * participants who agree to participate in clinical research and provide written test subject consent. Exclusion Criteria: * For patients diagnosed with a specific serious disease that may cause knee pain (acute fracture, dislocation, complete rupture of ligaments, etc.) * If the cause of the pain is caused by a disease other than the knee (tumor, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lumbar disc herniation, etc.) * Cases where surgical intervention is required due to suspected acute fracture, dislocation, or ligament and cartilage damage * If there is another acute disease (stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, diabetic neuropathy, dementia, epilepsy, etc.) that may interfere with the treatment effect or interpretation of results * Patients currently taking steroids, immunosuppressants, mental illness drugs, or other drugs that may affect their findings * Inadequate or unsafe medication: hemorrhagic disease, anticoagulant therapy, severe diabetic patients with risk of infection * Patients who have taken drugs that may affect pain, such as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), or have received herbal acupuncture or physical therapy within the past week * In the case of pregnant women and in the case of planning to become pregnant or nursing * Patients within 3 months after knee surgery or if knee replacement surgery was performed * If it has been less than 1 month since participants finished participating in another clinical study, or if participants are planning to participate in another clinical study during the study participation and follow-up period within 6 months from the date of selection * If it is difficult to fill out the consent form for research participation * In cases where it is difficult for other researchers to participate in clinical research
Where this trial is running
Daejeon
- Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine — Daejeon, South Korea (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sunah Kim KMD
- Email: tnsdk2648@jaseng.org
- Phone: 82-42-1577-0007
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.