Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Relieves Postoperative Pain After Milligan-Morgan Hemorrhoidectomy for Mixed Hemorrhoids: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of wrist-ankle acupuncture in alleviating postoperative pain in patients undergoing Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy for mixed hemorrhoids.

Patients and methods: A total of 124 patients who underwent Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy for mixed hemorrhoids at our center between January 2024 and December 2024 were randomly assigned to two groups (62 patients in each group). The control group received postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), whereas the treatment group received wrist-ankle acupuncture in addition to PCIA. Pain relief was assessed at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively. Additional outcomes included PCIA usage, frequency of rescue analgesia for pain, and the incidence of postoperative complications.

Results: The treatment group exhibited significantly lower Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores than the control group starting at 12 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). By 24 h, both PCIA usage and the frequency of rescue analgesia were significantly reduced in the treatment group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of constipation and urinary retention was also lower in the treatment group (P < 0.05). No adverse events occurred in either group.

Conclusion: Wrist-ankle acupuncture is a safe and effective adjunct for postoperative analgesia following Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy. It significantly alleviates pain, lowers the incidence of constipation and urinary retention, and is not associated with any adverse effects.