Needles vs. pills: can acupuncture cut opioid use after hip surgery?

NCT ID NCT05384860

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether giving acupuncture during hip replacement surgery helps patients use fewer opioids and recover faster. 484 adults having hip replacement were split into two groups: one received ear acupuncture with mild electrical stimulation while sedated, and the other had standard surgery without acupuncture. The main goal was to see if more patients in the acupuncture group kept their opioid use low for 30 days after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: auricular acupuncture with low-frequency electrostimulation
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a low-cost, low-risk way to reduce opioid use and speed recovery after hip replacement surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a completed study, but results are not yet widely confirmed. Acupuncture's effect on opioid use may be small or not generalizable to all patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ACUPUNCTURE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

opioid abuse

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACUPUNCTURE HIP SURGERY OPIOID USE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hospital for Special Surgery

New York, New York, 10021, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.