Potential of Auriculotherapy in Pain, Edema and Anxiety Management Following Orthognathic Surgery: A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled and Triple-Blind Study.

Background: This multicenter, triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of auriculotherapy in managing pain, edema, and anxiety following orthognathic surgical procedures. Materials and Methods: The study involved patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery at two centers. Participants were randomized into two groups: the auriculotherapy group (AG), where vaccaria seeds were applied to six auricular points, and a placebo group (PG), where patches without seeds were applied to the same points. For ten-day post-surgery, patients underwent assessments of their pain levels, swelling, and anxiety. Results: Sixty-one patients were included (31 in the AG and 30 in the PG). The differences in pain level between the two groups were not significant until the 5-day check. Subsequently, the AG showed significantly lower levels of pain up to the 10-day follow-up. During the study period, patients in the AG consumed a significantly lower number of pain-relief medications compared to the PG (AG 18 [IQR 15.5-22.5], PG 22 [IQR 17.8-24], Conclusions: Auriculotherapy has shown promise in managing post-orthognathic surgery pain and reducing patient anxiety, while also allowing reduced medication intake. For these reasons, it could serve as a cost-effective and side-effect-free therapeutic adjunct for these patients.