Clinical assessment
depression, Depression, NRS, pain
SECONDARY
Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug was used for analgesia, and supplementary dosage could be administered if needed. No additional analgesic medication was asked for in both EA and SA groups throughout the study. All patients underwent rs‐fMRI scan twice. The demographic information and clinical scale data (dependent variables) at POD 3 (preintervention) and POD 7 (postintervention) were analyzed. The primary outcome was mean reduction in pain intensity represented by the NRS score of patients. To obtain the NRS score, the patients were asked to circle a number ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the most intense pain imaginable) that best fit their current level of pain. The reduction in Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score was calculated as the secondary outcome. SDS was used to evaluate the subjectively reported depression by the patients. The scale consisted of 20 items and each item was divided into 4 levels according the frequency of symptoms, which is suitable for adults with depression. For the SDS score, patients scored on the scale according to their emotional state.