Tang YL, Zhao YX, Wang X. Music therapy for anxiety reduction in non-acute surgical fracture patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Orthop 2026; 17(2): 113526 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i2.113526]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao Wang, School of Humanities and Management, Southwest Medical University, Hongxing Street, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China. wangxiao@mail.ru
Research Domain of This Article
Psychology, Clinical
Article-Type of This Article
Meta-Analysis
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Feb 18, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 4, 2026
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Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Orthopedics
ISSN
2218-5836
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Tang YL, Zhao YX, Wang X. Music therapy for anxiety reduction in non-acute surgical fracture patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Orthop 2026; 17(2): 113526 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i2.113526]
World J Orthop. Feb 18, 2026; 17(2): 113526 Published online Feb 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i2.113526
Music therapy for anxiety reduction in non-acute surgical fracture patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Yu-Lan Tang, Ying-Xin Zhao, Xiao Wang
Yu-Lan Tang, Ying-Xin Zhao, Xiao Wang, School of Humanities and Management, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Tang YL have given substantial contributions to the conceptualization and investigation; Zhao YX contributions to the methodology, software and validation; Wang X contributions to supervision. All authors have participated to drafting the manuscript, and they all read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao Wang, School of Humanities and Management, Southwest Medical University, Hongxing Street, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China. wangxiao@mail.ru
Received: August 27, 2025 Revised: September 23, 2025 Accepted: November 25, 2025 Published online: February 18, 2026 Processing time: 160 Days and 18.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Anxiety is a common issue among non-acute surgical fracture patients. Non-pharmacological interventions are needed. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize evidence on the efficacy of music therapy for anxiety reduction in this population.
AIM
To evaluate the effect of music therapy on anxiety in non-acute surgical fracture patients.
METHODS
We systematically searched CNKI, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, VIP, and MEDLINE databases for randomized controlled trials. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. The primary outcome was anxiety scores measured by standardized scales.
RESULTS
Twelve randomized-controlled trials comprising 1257 patients (628 receiving music therapy, 629 in control groups) are included. Music therapy markedly reduces anxiety [the standardized mean difference (SMD) = -2.09, 95%confidence interval (CI): -2.63 to -1.55), P < 0.001], pain (SMD = -2.22, 95%CI: -3.39 to -1.05, P < 0.001) and depression (SMD = -2.05, 95%CI: -3.75 to -1.25, P < 0.001) vs standard care.
CONCLUSION
Music therapy significantly reduces anxiety in non-acute surgical fracture patients and should be considered as a complementary therapy.
Core Tip: This meta-analysis offers robust evidence that music therapy - an affordable, non-invasive intervention - effectively eases anxiety in patients recovering from non-acute surgical fractures. Its findings back the inclusion of music therapy in standard clinical rehabilitation protocols. This integration can enhance patients’ psychological outcomes and may reduce the need for pharmacological treatments, highlighting a practical, low-cost way to improve post-surgery care.
