title: Electroacupuncture as a complement to usual care for patients with non-acute pain after back surgery: a study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent or persistent low back pain is common after back surgery but is typically not well controlled. Previous randomised controlled trials on non-acute pain after back surgery were flawed. In this article, the design and protocol of a randomised controlled trial to treat pain and improve function after back surgery are described.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a pilot randomised, active-controlled, assessor-blinded trial. Patients with recurring or persistent low back pain after back surgery, defined as a visual analogue scale value of ≥50 mm, with or without leg pain, will be randomly assigned to an electroacupuncture-plus-usual-care group or to a usual-care-only group. Patients assigned to both groups will have usual care management, including physical therapy and patient education, twice a week during a 4-week treatment period that would begin at randomisation. Patients assigned to the electroacupuncture-plus-usual-care group will also have electroacupuncture twice a week during the 4-week treatment period. The primary outcome will be measured with the 100 mm pain visual analogue scale of low back pain by a blinded evaluator. Secondary outcomes will be measured with the EuroQol 5-Dimension and the Oswestry Disability Index. The primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Pusan National University Korean Hospital in September 2013 (IRB approval number 2013012). The study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This trial was registered with the US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry: NCT01966250.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Man-Suk
authors: MS
authors: Hwang
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Kwang-Ho
authors: KH
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Hyun-Woo
authors: HW
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Byung-Cheul
authors: BC
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Hyeon-Yeop
authors: HY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: In
authors: I
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology and Dermatology, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Nam-Kwen
authors: NK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Byung-Kwan
authors: BK
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Dong-Wuk
authors: DW
authors: Son
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Eui-Hyoung
authors: EH
authors: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE; NEUROSURGERY; PAIN MANAGEMENT; REHABILITATION MEDICINE
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