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Purpose

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control? Does the intervention reduce opioid consumption and improve functional recovery in the immediate postoperative period? Researchers will compare the imagined acupuncture group to the control education video group to see if imagery-based intervention leads to better pain outcomes and reduced analgesic use. Participants will: Watch a 30-minute video once daily for 7 consecutive days after surgery Complete pain and function assessments during the hospital stay and postoperative follow-up

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Undergoing 1- to 2-level primary spine surgery - Aged 18 years or older - Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT) - Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • Undergoing revision surgery or procedures involving more than 3 spinal levels - History of prior spinal surgery - Intraoperative complications likely to interfere with postoperative pain assessment - Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders that impair participation or communication - Pregnant or breastfeeding - Unable to cooperate with treatment or pain assessments Individuals with uncorrectable vision impairment that would interfere with viewing study videos or completing study questionnaires.

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Group 1: Imagined Acupuncture Intervention 		Participants assigned to Group 1 will receive standard postoperative care and a daily VGAIT session once per day for seven consecutive days following surgery. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes and will be guided by a standardized video designed to induce acupuncture imagery and mental engagement. VGAIT will be administered at the same time each day (e.g., 9:00 AM ± 30 minutes). VAS and ODI assessments will be administered following the completion of the video session. The initial video session will be administered once the patient has fully regained consciousness in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery.
  • Other: video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT)
    Unlike traditional acupuncture, VGAIT can be self-administered and does not require physical needle insertion, making it a practical alternative for patients seeking non-invasive pain management.
Sham Comparator
Group 2: Education video 		Participants in the control group will receive standard postoperative care and Education video without any simulated acupuncture intervention. VAS and ODI assessments will be conducted at the same intervals as in Group 1 for consistency and comparison.
  • Other: Education video
    Education video about postoperative precautions

Recruiting Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Contact:
Jingping Wang
6176432729
jwang23@MGH.Harvard.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Jingping Wang, MD, Ph.D.

Study Contact

Jingping Wang Associate Professor
6176432729
JWANG23@mgh.harvard.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.