Needles vs. pills: can acupuncture cut opioid use after hip surgery?
NCT ID NCT05384860
First seen Jan 04, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 24 times
Summary
This study tested whether giving acupuncture during hip replacement surgery can help patients use fewer opioids and recover faster. 484 adults having a total hip replacement were split into two groups: one received ear acupuncture with mild electrical stimulation while sedated, and the other had surgery as usual. Researchers tracked opioid use and pain scores for 30 days after surgery to see if acupuncture made a difference.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
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.
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.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for OPIOID USE are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Locations
-
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, New York, 10021, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Auricular Trauma Protocol (ATP) Acupuncture
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a low-cost, safe 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 may not significantly reduce opioid use or improve recovery for everyone.
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.