Effects of electroacupuncture combined with flurbiprofen axetil on postoperative pain and early functional recovery after breast cancer surgery

doi:10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.114431

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Feb 24, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 12, 2026

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World Journal of Clinical Oncology

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2218-4333

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

Case Control Study

World J Clin Oncol. Feb 24, 2026; 17(2): 114431
Published online Feb 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.114431

Effects of electroacupuncture combined with flurbiprofen axetil on postoperative pain and early functional recovery after breast cancer surgery

Bi-Mei He, Xiao-Lin Sun, Xiao-Yu Huang, Sen-Sen Zhang, Qing-Xiong Hong

Bi-Mei He, Xiao-Lin Sun, Xiao-Yu Huang, Sen-Sen Zhang, Qing-Xiong Hong, Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China

Author contributions: He BM did the statistical analyses; He BM and Hong QX initiated the project, generated research funds and ideas, led and coordinated the project, interpreted data, and wrote the paper; Sun XL provided intellectual input; Sun XL and Huang XY initiated and performed the experiments; Huang XY and Zhang SS were responsible for patients’ inclusion, follow-up, and adjudication of outcomes. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Supported by Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology Project, No. 2017ZC0181.

Institutional review board statement: The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Approval No. Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine BF2018-006-01).

Informed consent statement: All patients gave written informed consent.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.

Data sharing statement: No additional data needs to be shared.

Corresponding author: Qing-Xiong Hong, Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No. 111 Dade Road, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China. gaoheiamk@163.com

Received: September 19, 2025
Revised: November 18, 2025
Accepted: January 9, 2026
Published online: February 24, 2026
Processing time: 140 Days and 23 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer surgery often leads to acute postoperative pain that affects early recovery. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a potential adjunct to analgesics such as flurbiprofen axetil (FA), but evidence on its perioperative benefits remains limited.

AIM

To investigate the effects of EA combined with FA on postoperative pain and early functional recovery after breast cancer surgery.

METHODS

A total of 130 patients with breast cancer were randomly divided into EA group (n = 65) and control group (n = 65). Patients received EA or sham acupuncture from 30 minutes before anesthesia induction until surgery end. Both groups received FA postoperatively. We observed the occurrence of postoperative pain (incidence of moderate-to-severe pain during movement and at rest, Visual Analog Scale score) at 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours postoperatively, the score of basic activities of daily living (BADL) at 24 hours postoperatively and complications after surgery in both groups of patients.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the EA group lowered the incidence of moderate-to-severe movement-evoked pain at 24 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05), and reduced Visual Analog Scale scores during movement and at rest 24 hours after surgery (P < 0.01). The scores of BADL for grooming, dressing, toileting, and transferring (moving in and out of a bed or chair) were significantly better in the EA group than in the control group 24 hours after surgery (P < 0.05), the total BADL score was significantly higher (P < 0.01). The incidence of postoperative complications (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite) was significantly reduced in the EA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EA combined with flurbiprofen FA can reduce the occurrence of postoperative pain and complications, improve early postoperative functional recovery after breast cancer surgery.

Keywords: Electroacupuncture; Breast cancer; Postoperative pain; Flurbiprofen axetil; Quality of life

Core Tip: This study demonstrates that electroacupuncture (EA) combined with flurbiprofen axetil (FA) provides superior analgesia and functional recovery after breast cancer surgery compared with FA alone. EA + FA reduced postoperative pain, shortened recovery time, and improved quality of life. These findings highlight EA as an effective non-pharmacological adjunct to enhance perioperative care and promote early rehabilitation in breast cancer patients.