Abstract
Abstract
Introduction:
Acupuncture, a complementary and alternative medical therapy, has become a viable treatment option for patients in Western society during the last few decades.
Objective:
The aim of this research was to analyze acupuncture and acupuncture-related therapies (ARTs) performed in a pediatric population.
Materials and Methods:
A 3-year retrospective review was performed on all inpatient and outpatient pediatric acupuncture services.
Results:
During the 3-year study period, 174 patients were seen 1090 times. The average patient age was 13.9 years. Patients were seen an average of 6.3 times. Of these encounters, 95.6% occurred in the clinic and 4.4% occurred in the hospital. Headache or migraine was the most common diagnosis. Acupuncture and ARTs performed included: 96% acupuncture body needling; 90% electroacupuncture; 49% laser therapy; 32% auricular acupuncture; and 27% moxibustion. Active pain was present in 72% of the patients encountered. The average pain score was 5.5 prior to intervention and 2.2 following treatment (P < 0.001). There were no improvements in pain scores for 8% of the patients with active pain, while 40% of patients achieved complete resolution of their pain. There were no adverse events.
Conclusions:
Acupuncture is a well-tolerated, safe, and effective resource for the pediatric population and is a viable option for pediatric pain management.
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