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NCT Number: NCT07178756

ACUPUNCTURE FOR THE POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY OF HIP FRACTURE PATIENTS: A PILOT RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Hip surgery is a common and safe medical intervention to restore the functionality and mobility of the hip joint in patients suffering from hip fractures. Despite the advances in surgical techniques, a relatively large proportion of patients suffer from postoperative pain, joint dysfunction and loss of muscle strength. These outcomes hinder rehabilitation, which consequently imposes significant economic burden for health systems.

This study aims to assess if the addition of acupuncture to existing postoperative management will improve the following patient outcomes post hip surgery:

1. Postoperative pain 2. Function (muscular strength and mobility)

Methods Patients who underwent hip surgery due to unilateral hip fracture, who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria, will be randomly allocated to either receive postoperative management ONLY (Conventional analgesics and physiotherapy) or with the addition of acupuncture post hip surgery.

In additional to standard care, acupuncture will be performed on patients in Group A twice a week from post-operative week (POW) 5 to 8, a total of 8 acupuncture treatments will be administered. From the 2nd to 8th treatment, electroacupuncture and infrared therapeutic lamp will be used. Group B will receive only standard post-operative management.

For patients in both Group A and B, primary outcomes will be assessed at the following time points: Post- Operative Week (POW) 0, 6, Post-Operative Month (POM) 6 and 12, while the secondary outcomes will be assessed at the following time points: POW 6, POM 6 and 12. The Primary Outcomes include:1. Modified Harris Hip Score 2. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-100). The Secondary Outcomes include: 1. Timed Up and Go (TUG) assessment. The TUG assessment will be performed thrice during each assessment and an average time will be taken. 2. Lower extremity muscle strength measured using a portable dynamometer. The subject's operated and non-operated side will be measured.

Hypothesis The addition of acupuncture to existing postoperative management will reduce pain and enhance functional recovery, better and faster than with postoperative management alone.

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Key information

Conditions

Hip Fracture Surgeries Femoral Fractures Fractures, Bone Hip Fractures Hip Injuries Leg Injuries Post-operative Hip Fractures Recovery Wounds and Injuries

Age range

40 year–99 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Admiralty Medical Centre (Khoo Teck Puat Hospital- KTPH @ ADMC ), Singapore

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients who undergone surgery due to unilateral hip fracture. Patients aged 40-99 (male), 55-99 (female). Ambulatory with or without aid prior to hip fracture. Able provide consent for the study and acupuncture treatment. Able to attend all treatment sessions

Exclusion criteria

Patients with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index >40) . Patients with communication barriers such as aphasia or language . Local or systemic infection or dermatological disease affecting sites of acupuncture. Existing treatment with anti-neoplastic, oral corticoid or immunosuppressive drugs. Needle phobia or inability to stay still for 30 min during acupuncture retention . History of psychiatric disease, kidney failure on peritoneal dialysis, substance abuse . If there exist any postoperative complications that deviate from standard management, resulting in interference of patient's clinical evaluation

Treatment and study plan

Acupuncture

Procedure

Both groups A and B will undergo standard postoperative management program. This includes conventional analgesia and physiotherapy POD 1, 2 and 3, followed by 5x/week until discharge, post-discharge, patients will continue physiotherapy 1-2x/ week for 3 months depending on their rate of recovery.

In addition, acupuncture treatment will be delivered for the treatment group. Acupuncture will be performed 2x/week from postoperative week (POW) 5 to POW 8, a total of 8 acupuncture treatments will be administered. From the 2nd to 8th treatment, electroacupuncture and infrared therapeutic lamp will be used. The acupuncture needles to be used for this study are Kinhong/MAC sterile acupuncture needles for single use. The needles will be left in situ for 20 minutes. Electrical stimulation will be delivered at 2Hz for 20 min, at an intensity below individual patient's pain threshold. 4 acupuncture points will be stimulated in pairs.

Other names: Acupuncture in addition to standard care, Acupuncture AND physiotherapy, Acupuncture in addition to standard post operative management for hip fracture patients

Post-operative standard care

Other

Standard postoperative management program includes: conventional analgesia and physiotherapy POD 1, 2 and 3, followed by 5x/week until discharge. Post-discharge, patients will continue physiotherapy 1-2x/ week for 3 months depending on their rate of recovery. No acupuncture given

Other names: Standard post-operative management program for hip fracture

Primary outcomes

  1. 1. Modified Harris Hip Score

    Time frame: postoperative Week (POW) 0, 6, postoperative month (POM) 6 and POM 12

    Assessing pain and function

  2. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-100

    Time frame: postoperative Week (POW) 0, 6, postoperative month (POM) 6 and POM 12

    For assessing the pain intensity

Secondary outcomes

  1. Timed get Up and Go (TUG) test

    Time frame: POW 6, POM 6 and 12

    Test for assessing function (Gait and speed). The TUG will be performed thrice during each assessment and the average time will be taken.

  2. Lower extremity muscle strength

    Time frame: POW 6, POM 6 and 12

    Lower extremity muscle strength will be measured using a portable dynamometer. The subject's operated and non-operated side will be measured.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Ministry of Health, Singapore

Registry information

Acronym: AFTPROHFP

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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