Background:

There is evidence that acupuncture may relieve pain.

Aim:

To assess the evidence about the effectiveness of acupuncture to relieve postoperative pain.

Material and Methods:

A systematic review of the literature selecting controlled clinical trials and systematic reviews comparing acupuncture with standard pain management. The value and quality of reports were evaluated using Jadad scale and STRICTA protocol. Pain intensity and analgesic consumption were the primary endpoints sought.

Results:

Five controlled trials and two systematic reviews were selected. A meta-analysis was not feasible due to the heterogeneity of studies. In the postoperative period of tonsillectomy, acupuncture reduced pain by 36 and 22% at 20 minutes and two hours, respectively. In knee replacement, acupuncture reduced pain by 2% and analgesic consumption by 42%. In the postoperative period of dental interventions, acupuncture reduced pain by 24% at two hours.

Conclusions:

Acupuncture may be useful to manage postoperative pain, but more controlled studies are required.