Comparative retrospective analysis of auriculotherapy with mechanical needles and cryogenic needles for pain treatment
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Abstract
To compare the effects of so-called semi-permanent needles and cryogenic needles in auriculotherapy performed at a hospital or independently. We analyzed the auriculotherapy consultation records of Gustave Roussy and Kremlin Bicêtre hospitals, and of the medical practices of Drs. D. Alimi and C. Gueguen, from November 2010 to February 2012. Results on pain intensity were compared according to whether patients had received auriculotherapy with semi-permanent needles or cryogenic needles, in different pathologies.
A total of 2,147 patient records were analyzed, of which 90% suffered from chronic pain and 10% from acute pain. 79% of patients had been treated in the practices of Drs. D. Alimi and C. Gueguen, and 21% in Gustave Roussy and Kremlin Bicêtre hospitals (with participation of Dr. D. Alimi). 1,355 patients were familiar with auriculotherapy, of which 652 were treated with semi-permanent needles and 703 with cryogenic needles. 792 patients were not familiar with AT and were treated with cryogenic needles. In those already familiar with auriculotherapy, 75% of patients treated with semi-permanent needles were relieved of their pain compared to 80% of those treated with cryogenic needles; while among patients not familiar with auriculotherapy, 72% of those treated with semi-permanent needles and 79% of those treated with cryogenic needles were relieved of their pain.
Positive results were obtained with both semi-permanent and cryogenic needles, with slight superiority for the latter, knowing that these results were not from a randomized controlled trial.
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