Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Pain After Spinal Surgery

ConditionPain Management
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorJingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control?

Does the intervention reduce opioid consumption and improve functional recovery in the immediate postoperative period?

Researchers will compare the imagined acupuncture group to the control education video group to see if imagery-based intervention leads to better pain outcomes and reduced analgesic use.

Participants will:

Watch a 30-minute video once daily for 7 consecutive days after surgery

Complete pain and function assessments during the hospital stay and postoperative follow-up

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Undergoing 1- to 2-level primary spine surgery

Aged 18 years or older

Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT)

Able to provide written informed consent

Disqualifiers

Undergoing revision surgery or procedures involving more than 3 spinal levels

History of prior spinal surgery

Intraoperative complications likely to interfere with postoperative pain assessment

Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders that impair participation or communication

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)

    Other intervention

    Unlike traditional acupuncture, VGAIT can be self-administered and does not require physical needle insertion, making it a practical alternative for patients seeking non-invasive pain management.

  • Education video

    Other intervention

    Education video about postoperative precautions

Treatment groups

120 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture InterventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Group 2: Education videoSham comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Pain Scores (VAS)

Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) daily, including VAS at rest, VAS on movement

Time frame
During the first postoperative week (Days 0-6)
2

2) Functional Scores (ODI)

Functional status will be evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

Time frame
On postoperative Day6
3

3) Rescue Opioid Consumption

The total amount of rescue opioid medication used during the first postoperative week will be recorded in milligrams (oral and intravenous)

Time frame
On postoperative Day6

Secondary outcomes

1

1) Time to First Rescue Analgesia

The exact time (in hours and minutes) from the end of surgery to the administration of the first rescue analgesic will be recorded

Time frame
On postoperative Day6
2

2) Total Analgesic Consumption

The cumulative amount of all pain medications (opioid and non-opioid, oral and intravenous) administered within 7 days postoperatively, recorded in milligrams.

Time frame
On postoperative Day6
3

3) Length of Hospital Stay

Measured as the number of days from the date of surgery to the date of hospital discharge.

Time frame
On postoperative Day6
4

4) Adverse Effects

Incidence of treatment-related side effects, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, respiratory depression, urinary retention, ileus, or any other reported complications.

Time frame
On postoperative Day6

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Sponsor institution

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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