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.
Aged between 18 and 75 years;
Patients who underwent perianal surgery;
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score ≥4;
Clear consciousness with the ability to articulate their sensations;
Pregnant or lactating patients;
Patients with a history of needle fainting or needle phobia;
Patients with incomplete skin integrity at the wrist or ankle;
Patients with comorbid systemic diseases, such as cardiac insufficiency or coagulation disorders;
Parallel
wrist-ankle acupuncture
DevicePatients 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.
Postoperative pain intensity
Pain assessment was conducted using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). A 10-cm horizontal line was drawn on paper, with one end marked as "0" indicating "no pain" and the opposite end marked as "10" indicating "severe pain." The intermediate sections represented varying degrees of pain intensity. Patients were instructed to mark a point on the line based on their subjective perception of pain. Assessments were performed at 24 hours postoperatively, as well as at 5 minutes and 30 minutes after the administration of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy. The reduction in Visual Analogue Scale（VAS） scores was recorded accordingly.
Analgesic Medication Frequency
The frequency of use of postoperative analgesic medications, such as flurbiprofen, was recorded.
Clinical Postoperative Urinary Retention (POUR) Score
The Clinical Postoperative Urinary Retention (POUR) scores of patients were observed and recorded at 24 hours after surgery.
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