Percutaneous auricular neuromodulation for postoperative analgesia.

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative pain is often severe, with many patients still experiencing significant pain upon discharge. While opioids are effective for pain relief, they have numerous side effects and carry a high risk for misuse and dependence. Auricular electric stimulation, a form of neuromodulation, offers a promising alternative by electrically stimulating nerves of the auricle to modulate central pain pathways, potentially reducing postoperative pain and opioid requirements.

Areas covered: This review, based on a search of the MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane review online sources from 1980 to 2024, discusses the use of auricular electric stimulation as a form of neuromodulation for management of postoperative pain focusing on the available evidence and future avenues for research.

Expert opinion: Percutaneous auricular nerve stimulation offers a promising neuromodulation technique for managing postoperative pain. By modulating central pain processing through peripheral stimulation, this approach may reduce pain during recovery. Small pilot studies have suggested that auricular stimulation may lower pain intensity and reduce opioid consumption after surgery; however, further research is needed regarding both potential benefits and risks. As a minimally invasive technique, percutaneous auricular stimulation may provide a valuable adjunct to multimodal analgesia, especially in patients at risk of opioid-related complications.