Effect of Acupressure on Pain during Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Injection in Children Aged 5-10 Years Old - An Experimental Study

Abstract

Background : Acupressure, which is related to acupuncture, is a noninvasive therapy suitable for use in children. However, data examining acupressure’s effects on the pain of local anesthetic injection in children are sparse. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate acupressure’s effects on the pain of local anesthetic injection in children. Methods : This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical study included 37 5- to 10-year-olds who had an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) for a mandibular extraction and were randomized to one of two groups: acupressure (study group) or non-acupressure (control group). The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS) and the Sound, Eye, Motor (SEM) scale were utilized for subjective and objective pain assessment during injection. Results : The objective and subjective assessment of pain during injection significantly differed between the groups, with the acupressure group displaying lower scores. Conclusion : Acupressure at the extra one point (EX-HN1) reduced pain during IANB injection in 5- to 10-year-olds and can be used as an adjunct to conventional measures like topical anesthesia to reduce pain.

Keywords

• acupressure
• ex-hn1
• ianb
• pain on injection
• pain assessment scale
• physiologic pain assessment