Acupuncture Anesthesia Group, Department of Orthopedics, Xian Red Cross Hospital
Orthopedics operations on the extremities of 591 patients were performed under acupuncture anesthesia in our hospital from 1973 to May 1976. 190 patients were operated on upper limbs and 401 cases on lower limbs. There were 431 males and 160 females. Results of acupuncture anesthesia: 94.7% successful with 86.8% excellent-good grade. The effects of acupuncture anesthesia for upper and lower limbs were about the same.
Acupuncture points were selected in accordance with the segmental distribution of nerves and courses of channels at the site of operation. Needling was properly applied till there was a sense of muscular twitching, numbness or heaviness and the voluntary movements became limited. The electric impulse stimulation apparatus was connected to the needle and showed square rarefaction dense waves, with a frequency of 50 -- 100 cycles per second, the current strength varied according to the patients' tolerance. The time of induction was about 15--20 minutes.
At the initial stage, the results of orthopedic operations on extremities were not satisfactory under acupuneture anesthesia when the points were selected according to the course of channels. With continued improvement, considering that nerves run along nearly the pathway of channels in the limbs, we came to use the present method to select points, and the results were better.
There still are some disadvantages of acupuncture anesthesia for limb operations, namely, incomplete analgesia in skin incision, peeling periosteum or chiselling bones, inadequate muscular relaxation and undue reaction to tourniquet. Points "Chingtai" above and below the incision were used additionally to relieve pain on skin incision and to eliminate the reaction to tourniquet. Effective measure for relieving pain of peeling periosteum and chiselling bones requires that the operation should be performed steadily, accurately, gently and quickly. In regard to inadequate muscular relaxation, it has been observed clinically and electromyo-graphically that acupuncture anesthesia has nothing to do with simple muscular tension, but if needle is inserted directly into the nerve trunk, strong contraction may occur, and interfere with the operation. It is, therefore, necessary to pay attention to the depth of needle insertion, and care should be taken to avoid needle inserted directly into the nerve trunk.
Acupuncture anesthesia for operations on the extremities is feasible. There are definite surface markings for selecting acupuncture points in accordance with the segmental distribution of nerves and the course of channels. The disadvantages are expected to be overcome through further clinical research.
Orthopedics operations on the extremities of 591 patients were performed under acupuncture anesthesia in our hospital from 1973 to May 1976. 190 patients were operated on upper limbs and 401 cases on lower limbs. There were 431 males and 160 females. Results of acupuncture anesthesia: 94.7% successful with 86.8% excellent-good grade. The effects of acupuncture anesthesia for upper and lower limbs were about the same.
Acupuncture points were selected in accordance with the segmental distribution of nerves and courses of channels at the site of operation. Needling was properly applied till there was a sense of muscular twitching, numbness or heaviness and the voluntary movements became limited. The electric impulse stimulation apparatus was connected to the needle and showed square rarefaction dense waves, with a frequency of 50 -- 100 cycles per second, the current strength varied according to the patients' tolerance. The time of induction was about 15--20 minutes.
At the initial stage, the results of orthopedic operations on extremities were not satisfactory under acupuneture anesthesia when the points were selected according to the course of channels. With continued improvement, considering that nerves run along nearly the pathway of channels in the limbs, we came to use the present method to select points, and the results were better.
There still are some disadvantages of acupuncture anesthesia for limb operations, namely, incomplete analgesia in skin incision, peeling periosteum or chiselling bones, inadequate muscular relaxation and undue reaction to tourniquet. Points "Chingtai" above and below the incision were used additionally to relieve pain on skin incision and to eliminate the reaction to tourniquet. Effective measure for relieving pain of peeling periosteum and chiselling bones requires that the operation should be performed steadily, accurately, gently and quickly. In regard to inadequate muscular relaxation, it has been observed clinically and electromyo-graphically that acupuncture anesthesia has nothing to do with simple muscular tension, but if needle is inserted directly into the nerve trunk, strong contraction may occur, and interfere with the operation. It is, therefore, necessary to pay attention to the depth of needle insertion, and care should be taken to avoid needle inserted directly into the nerve trunk.
Acupuncture anesthesia for operations on the extremities is feasible. There are definite surface markings for selecting acupuncture points in accordance with the segmental distribution of nerves and the course of channels. The disadvantages are expected to be overcome through further clinical research.
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