[Application of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in preoperative analgesia for intertrochanteric fracture of femur in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS) on preoperative analgesia for the elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur.

METHODS

A total of 126 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur were randomized into an observation group(63 cases, one case dropped out) and a control group(63 cases, 2 cases dropped out ). In the observation group, TEAS was operated at Huantiao (GB30), Yanglingquan (GB34), Zusanli (ST36) and Kuanguxue (Extra) on the affected side. In the control group, the sham-TEAS was delivered with the electrode patches attached on the same points, without electric current exerted. The interventions of the two groups started in 1 h on the 1st day of hospital-stay, stimulated for 1 h, twice daily, for maximal 3 d. The numeric rating scale (NRS) was observed on the day of hospital administration (T0), at 1 h (T1), 12 h (T2), 24 h (T3) and 48 h (T4) after the 1st intervention of the two groups, separately. The amount of additional analgesic drugs, the incidence of complications, and patient satisfaction for analgesia were recorded.

RESULTS

The NRS scores either resting or passive movement from T1 to T4 were reduced compared with the score at T0 in the two groups (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the NRS scores of observation group were lower from T1 to T4 when resting and from T2 to T4 during passive movement (P<0.05). The analgesia satisfaction score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was lower in the observation group compared with the control group (P<0.05). The amount of additional analgesic drugs was reduced in the observation group in comparison with the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TEAS exhibits the favorable preoperative analgesic effects in the elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur, and it reduces the dosage of analgesic drugs, and the occurrence of complications.