Objective To explore the effect of buccal acupuncture therapy on preoperative pain in patients with fracture of radius.

Methods A total of 54 patients with closed fracture of radius were randomly divided into buccal acupuncture group and drug group, with 27 cases in each group. Buccal acupuncture group was given acupuncture at points of elbow and wrist on the affected side, and the needle was kept for 30 minutes; the drug group was given intravenous drip of 40 mg parecoxib sodium for analgesia.The scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment and immediate time point, 6, 12 and 24 hours after treatment were recorded; the scores of Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) before treatment and 24 hours after treatment were recorded; morphine supplementation and adverse reactions were recorded; patients′satisfaction degree to preoperative analgesia was compared between two groups.

Results Compared with VAS score before treatment, the VAS scores at the time points of immediately, 6, 12 and 24 hours after treatment decreased significantly in buccal acupuncture group, while VAS scores at 6, 12 and 24 hours after treatment decreased significantly in drug group (P < 0.01); the VAS score immediately after treatment in the buccal acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the drug group (P < 0.01). Compared with ISI score before treatment, the ISI score of the buccal acupuncture group decreased significantly at 24 hours after treatment (P < 0.01); at 24 hours after treatment, the ISI score of the buccal acupuncture group was significantly lower than that of the drug group (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the incidence of nausea and vomiting and additional morphine consumption for analgesia between the two groups (P>0.05). The overall satisfaction degree of patients in the buccal acupuncture group scored (4.19±0.68), which was significantly higher than (3.74±0.66) in the drug group (t=2.467, P=0.017).

Conclusion Buccal acupuncture therapy can quickly and effectively alleviate the preoperative pain of patients with fracture of radius, improve sleep state, and they have high overall satisfaction degree.