Objective To observe the analgesic effect and safety of electroacupuncture(EA)intervention for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods A total of 40 patients undergoing TKA were randomly assigned to control group(simple multi-mode analgesia

n=20)and EA group(EA combined with multi-mode analgesia

n=20).Both groups were treated with epidural anesthesia during surgical operation

and conventional epidural automatic analgesia and oral Celecoxib after surgery.Following surgery

EA was applied to Liangqiu(ST 34)-Xuehai(SP 10)

Yinlingquan(SP 9)-Zusanli(ST 36)

Fenglong(ST 40)-Qiuxu(GB 40)on the operation side for 30 min

once daily for 7 consecutive days.The patients' pain state during rest and motion was assessed by using visual analogue scale(VAS).The active and passive knee flexion range of motion(ROM)

use of painkillers including the number of patient's controlled epidural analgesia(PCEA)during 48 hafter surgery

and other complications were recorded.Results After the treatment

the VAS scores under rest and motion state were both significantly lower in the EA group than in the control group on day 3

5 and 7 after surgery(P<0.05).During 48 hafter surgery

the number of PECA was significantly lower in the EA group than in the control group(P<0.05).Of the two 20 cases in the control and EA groups

3 and 1 asked to receive muscular injection of Tramadol Hydrochloride for pain relief

3 and 2 experienced nausea-vomiting

2 and 1 had dizziness and headache

and 2 and 1 had a chest distress feeling

respectively

which had no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).The white blood cell(WBC)count in both groups were decreased gradually from day 1 to 7 after surgery

and plasma C-reactive protein content on day 5 and 7 were also lowered in both groups

without statistical differences between the two groups in the post-operative complications

dosages of additional postoperative analgesic drugs

and levels of plasma WBC and C-reactive protein(P>0.05).Conclusion EA can effectively improve the early postoperative pain of TKA

reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and the use of analgesic drugs in TKA patients.