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], p = 0.025). The differences between the two groups regarding the severity of the edema were not significant at all time points. The two groups did not show significant differences in terms of preoperative anxiety score. Ten days after the surgical procedure, the PG exhibited significantly higher anxiety levels compared to the AG. 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.