Needles vs. pills: can acupuncture cut opioid use after hip surgery?
NCT ID NCT05384860
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.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, New York, 10021, United States