Acupuncture needles may beat pills for Post-Surgery gut troubles

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Met the diagnostic criteria for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction as defined in the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Postoperative Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Using Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine; 2. Underwent elective knee surgery under general anesthesia; 3. Had normal bowel habits prior to hospital admission; 4. Were aged 18-80 years; 5. Had no severe systemic comorbidities or organic gastrointestinal disorders; 6. Provided written informed consent after receiving comprehensive information regarding the study's objectives, procedures, potential benefits, and associated risks. All patients in both groups received standard postoperative symptomatic management, including routine wound dressing changes and patient-controlled analgesia. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with chronic diarrhea or constipation attributable to organic etiologies; those with confirmed organic lesions of the large intestine (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, or neoplasms); individuals diagnosed with malignant tumors; patients who developed postoperative complications including intra-abdominal infection, abdominal hemorrhage, or cerebrovascular events requiring transfer to the intensive care unit; 2. Patients with severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal dysfunction (e.g., NYHA Class IV heart failure, Child-Pugh Class C cirrhosis, or estimated glomerular filtration rate \<30 mL/min/1.73 m²); 3. Patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders, active systemic infections, or uncontrolled autoimmune diseases; 4. Patients with recent abdominal trauma, acute surgical abdomen, or documented hypersensitivity to any intervention-related medications or materials; 5. Presence of active dermatological conditions-including macules, papules, erythema, urticaria, abrasions, lacerations, or ulcerations-at the intended site of Fu's subcutaneous needle insertion; 6. Patients exhibiting severe needle phobia, persistent vertigo, or cognitive/psychological impairment that precludes reliable adherence to treatment protocols or informed consent procedures; 7. Patients who initiated concomitant therapies (pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic) not stipulated in the study protocol after enrollment, thereby confounding efficacy assessment; and those with incomplete baseline or follow-up data essential for primary or secondary outcome evaluation.