09 February 2026 : Meta-Analysis
Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture for Pain Alleviation in Post-Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hao Wang AB 1, Wenjie Chen DF 1, Guangyou Chen AB 1*, Kai Zhu D 1, Kaiquan Zhang BC 1, Dongdong Li F 1, Yang Lei B 1DOI: 10.12659/MSM.951091
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e951091
Table 1 Characteristics of studies.
| Study | Sample size | Age | Surgical procedure | Intervention | Outcomes | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mao 2021 []31 | T: 45C: 45 | T: 62.42±7.02C: 63.31±7.83 | TKA | T: EA + routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 4, 7, 8, 10 | China |
| Shi 2022 []17 | T: 40C: 40 | T: 66.7±4.6C: 67.0±4.9 | TKA | T: EA+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 2 | China |
| Chen 2019 []16 | T: 20C: 20 | T: 67±7C: 67±6 | TKA | T: EA+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | China |
| Ma 2021 []18 | T: 38C: 39 | T: 69.63±7.60C: 70.92±6.55 | TKA | T: EA+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 2 | China |
| Zhang 2020 []19 | T: 49C: 49 | T: 68.2±.8C: 69.0±5.3 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2, 3 | China |
| Bi 2023 []20 | T: 60C: 60 | T: 69.41±5.69C: 68.49±45 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2 | China |
| Sun 2018 []21 | T: 30C: 30 | NA | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 2, 3 | China |
| Kang 2022 []22 | T: 60C: 60 | T: 70.19±5.42C: 70.46±4.90 | TKA | T: EA+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 9, 10 | China |
| Sun 2024 []23 | T: 33C: 32 | T: 70.71±6.83C: 69.27±7.04 | TKA | T: EA+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 3, 9, 10 | China |
| Ma 2015 []24 | T: 30C: 30 | T: 64.20±2.83C: 64.33±3.25 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 | China |
| Zhu 2014 []25 | T: 60C: 60 | T: 69.29±6.438C: 66.56±6.693 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 2, 3 | China |
| Chen 2016 []26 | T: 21C: 21 | T: 64.86±1.52C: 64.81±1.39 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 3 | China |
| Lan 2013 []17 | T: 20C: 20 | T: 64.45±8.432C: 61.72±9.945 | TKA | T: EA+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 | China |
| Sheng 2018 []28 | T: 20C: 20 | T: 64.45±8.432C: 61.72±9.945 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 67, 8, 9, 10 | China |
| Wang 2017 []29 | T: 20C: 20 | T: 65.23±4.77C: 66.03±4.49 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | China |
| Guo 2022 []30 | T: 25C: 25 | T: 64.72±7.28C: 62.64±6.16 | TKA | T: EA+ exercise+ routine multimodal analgesiaC: Exercise+ routine multimodal analgesia | 2, 3, 5, 69, 10 | China |
| T – treatment; C – control; EA – electroacupuncture; Outcomes: 1. VAS at rest on postoperative day 1; 2. VAS at rest on postoperative day 3; 3. VAS at rest on postoperative day 7; 4. VAS at motion on postoperative day 1; 5. VAS at motion on postoperative day 3; 6. VAS at motion on postoperative day 7; 7. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) level; 8. βeta-endorphins (β-endorphins) level; 9. The number of additional use of analgesics; 10. The number of adverse events. | ||||||