A Randomized, Single-Blind, Prospective Trial of Auricular ‘Battlefield’ Acupuncture for the Reduction of Postoperative Tonsillectomy Pain in Adults

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this randomized, single-blind trial was to evaluate the efficacy of battlefield acupuncture in reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption after adult tonsillectomy. Methods: Adult participants undergoing a tonsillectomy were randomized to either receive auricular ‘battlefield’ acupuncture or not. Groups were compared using the Wilcox rank sum test, Fisher’s exact test and a generalized estimating equations model for post-discharge pain scores. Results: Statistically significant difference was not noted for morphine equivalent opioid use, nor was there any difference noted in the pain scores between the control group and treatment group. Conclusion: Acupuncture is cheap, safe and effective in many settings. Peri-operative battlefield auricular acupuncture did not reduce postoperative pain or opioid consumption in this study.

Keywords::

• acupuncture
• auricular acupuncture
• battlefield acupuncture
• pain
• tonsillectomies

Clinical trial registration

This study was registered with US NIH registry and results base, clinicaltrials. gov (identifier: NCT02571As of 2015).

Disclaimer

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US government.

Author’s contributions

A Plunkett worked on study design, writing, study procedure and data collection. A McCoart worked on recruitment, data collection, data entry, writing, study procedure and journal submission. RS Howard worked on data analysis, writing and tables. E Dennison worked on background research, writing and data collection. M Bartoszek worked on study procedure and data collection.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Coordinator salary support from Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management core funding under HU0001-15-2-0029. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

A Plunkett worked on study design, writing, study procedure and data collection. A McCoart worked on recruitment, data collection, data entry, writing, study procedure and journal submission. RS Howard worked on data analysis, writing and tables. E Dennison worked on background research, writing and data collection. M Bartoszek worked on study procedure and data collection. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.