Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Αλγολογία: Αντιμετώπιση του πόνου, διάγνωση και θεραπεία. Φαρμακευτικές, παρεμβατικές και άλλες τεχνικέςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Ntoutsouli Aikaterini-Maria
Supervisors info:
Γεώργιος Γεωργούδης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φυσικοθεραπείας, ΠΑΔΑ
Κασσιανή Θεοδωράκη, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Μιλτιάδης Καράβης, Εξωτερικός συνεργάτης, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Η αποτελεσματικότητα του ηλεκτροβελονισμού σε ασθενείς με Σύνδρομο Καρπιαίου Σωλήνα: Μια κλινική, ηλεκτροφυσιολογική και υπερηχογραφική μελέτη
Translated title:
Efficacy of Electroacupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Clinical, Electrophysiology and Ultrasonography Study
Summary:
Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common mononeuritis, which affects young and working populations and places a significant strain on both patients and public health. Acupuncture is one of the conservative treatments that is widely used for this syndrome, although limited evidence is available regarding the efficacy of this treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome through clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic assessments.
Methods: This study was carried out from July 2020 to September 2021 at the pain clinic of Aretaio Hospital and at the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Laboratory of the University of West Attica. Seventeen wrists were included in a total of twelve patients, who were diagnosed with mild or moderate carpal tunnel syndrome based on clinical and electrophysiological criteria. Eight acupuncture sessions were performed twice a week, lasting twenty minutes each. The outcome measures evaluated, at baseline and three to seven days after the last treatment, were: The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and Functional Status Scale (FSS) of Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) in Greek-language, the sensory and motor conduction studies of the median nerve and the cross-section area of the nerve (CSA) at the inlet of the carpal tunnel with ultrasound.
Results: There was a decrease in pain intensity on the VAS scale with median difference (MD) -2.45 (95% CI -3.55 to -1.2), a decrease in the severity of symptoms on the SSS scale -0,60 (95% CI -0.9 to -0.4) and an improvement of the function of the affected limb by -0.25 (95% CI 0.90-0.00) on the FSS scale. In addition, there was a reduction in the cross-section area of the median nerve (CSA) at the inlet of the carpal tunnel by -2.00 mm² (95% CI -3.00 to -0.50). No statistically significant improvements in motor and sensory conduction studies of the median nerve were detected. Side effects were observed in 8% of all electroacupuncture sessions and were of local and self-limiting nature.
Conclusion: Electroacupuncture is a safe treatment which improves the symptoms and function of the affected limb in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and induces morphological changes in the median nerve.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Carpal tunnel syndrome, Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Cross Sectional Area of median nerve
Number of references:
159
