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Acupuncture for Blunt Chest Trauma

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Chest Trauma
Rib Fractures
Interventions
Other: Press Tack Acupuncture
Other: Press Tack Placebo
Registration Number
NCT04318496
Lead Sponsor
China Medical University Hospital
Brief Summary

Introduction:

Chest blunt trauma accounts in up to 65% of polytrauma patients. In patients with 0-2 rib fracture, the treatment is relatively limited to oral pain killer and breathing exercise. The patients will suffer two weeks of severe pain accompanied with poor sleep and inability to preform simple daily live activities. In this double blind randomized control study, the investigators offer acupuncture as an additional treatment option.

Methods:

The study is a double blind randomized control trial. the study will include the press needle acupuncture (Acu) and placebo (Con) group. Both groups will receive one treatment, following the first visit to the clinic after chest trauma accident.

Detailed Description

Introduction:

Chest blunt trauma accounts in up to 65% of polytrauma patients. In patients with 0-2 rib fracture, the treatment is relatively limited to oral pain killer and breathing exercise. The patients will suffer two weeks of severe pain accompanied with poor sleep and inability to preform simple daily live activities. In this double blind randomized control study, the investigators offer acupuncture as an additional treatment option.

Methods:

The study is a double blind randomized control trial. the study goal is to examine the effect of acupuncture on patients with chest trauma. the study will include totally 72 patients and divide them to two group; the press needle acupuncture (Acu) and placebo (Con) group. Both groups will receive one treatment, following the first visit to the clinic after chest trauma accident. Follow up time will be 3 months.

Expected outcome:

The results of this study can potentially provide a simple and cost effective provide analgesic solution to blunt chest trauma patients. The study design can serve as supporting evidence for future double blind studies in acupuncture.

Other information:

The study will be conducted in thoracic surgical department and acupuncture department in China medical university hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. The study is conducted on blunt chest injury patients and is anticipated to have minimum risk for adverse events. Enrollment of the patients and data collection will start after March 2020. The study expected completion time will be March 2022.

Keywords: blunt chest trauma, acupuncture, press tack needle, rib fracture

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
72
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 20-80 year-old
  • Patients have chest trauma described by themselves or medical chart record within one week
  • Injury Severity Score (ISS) is less than 18 points
  • Body Mass Index(BMI)<30
Exclusion Criteria
  • Sternal fracture
  • Injury Severity Score (ISS) is equal or more than 18 points
  • History of intercostal nerve injury
  • History of cardiovascular disease
  • History of chronic lung disease
  • Significant lung mass or chest deformity noted in the chest plain film

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Acupuncture with press tack needle group (Acu)Press Tack Acupuncturethe press tack needles (PYONEX Φ0.20×0.6 mm made by Seirin Corporation) has a diameter of 0.2 mm and length of 0.6 mm will be used on the following bilateral points; GB 36 (Waiqiu), GB 34 (YangLingQuan), ST 36 (Zusanli), LI 4 (HeGu), LU 7 (LieQue), TH 5 (Waiguan) press tack needles retention time will be 4 days.
Placebo group (Con)Press Tack PlaceboThe pess tack placebo is PYONEX sticker and pack that is identical to the press needle, except that the needle part was removed. The acupuncturist will apply the stickers on the following bilateral acupoints: GB 36 (Waiqiu), GB 34 (YangLingQuan), ST 36 (Zusanli), LI 4 (HeGu), LU 7 (LieQue), TH 5 (Waiguan) press tack stickers retention time will be 4 days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) - rest3 months

pain scale form 1-10 when 10 is the most painful

Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) - mobile3 months

pain scale form 1-10 when 10 is the most painful

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Face Rating Scale (FRS)4 days

Face expression pain scale. scores form 0-5 when 5 is the most painful

Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS)4 days

Pain scale form 1-10 when 10 is the most painful

Flow meter4 days

Measure the amount of air the patient can exhale, It has three chambers with their own balls that requires air pressures from 600-1200 cc per second. 1200cc is the highest score and indicates good exhalation

Verran and Snyder-Halpern sleep scale4 days

includes 15 question on the patients sleep quality, each question has a 100mm line. Patients will raking each question 0-100 when 100 means no existing insomnia

Chest plain film4 days

Chest X-ray, will help examine the number of rib fractures, the incidence of hemothorax and pneumothorax

Pain killer or muscle relaxant medication does used4 days

We will measure the amount of analgesic or muscle relaxant medication each patient used

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Out-Patient Clinic of China Medical University Hospital

🇨🇳

Taichung, Taiwan

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