Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Based on Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Theory for Postoperative Pain After Thyroid Surgery: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial
Post-thyroidectomy pain is a prevalent early postoperative complication. While pharmacological agents remain the mainstay of analgesia, their clinical application is constrained by adverse effects including nausea, respiratory depression, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation based on wrist-ankle acupuncture theory (TENS-WAA) is a non-invasive analgesic modality that has demonstrated preliminary benefits in multiple pain scenarios. Nevertheless, robust evidence for its efficacy in post-thyroidectomy pain management is still lacking, limited by single-center designs and small sample sizes in existing studies. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TENS-WAA for pain control after thyroidectomy. The findings are expected to support a standardized non-pharmacological analgesic option as an adjunct to multimodal postoperative pain regimens, aligning with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles.
⁃ Be over 18 years of age;
• The operation time is less than 4 hours;
• Postoperative VAS pain score ≥3 points ;
• Clear consciousness, able to answer questions accurately, free speech, no hearing impairment;
• Informed consent