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Acupuncture for de Quervain's tenosynovitis: A randomized controlled trial

Authors :
Kinking Leung
Oliver Chunho Ma
Zongshi Qin
Ho Ting
Andrew Hokay Lau
Kevin Kaifung Lun
Hanna Yufaye Chan
Grace Yagun Wen
Jetson Tszkit Ng
Lingfung Chow
Cody Yuenting Chu
Tracy Siuting Ho
Katherine Tsang
Bacon Fung Leung Ng
Margaret Woon Man Fok
Christian Xin Shuo Fang
Lixing Lao
Haiyong Chen
Source :
Phytomedicine. 104:154254
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2022.

Abstract

Acupuncture has been an alternative approach for de Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQt), but trial evidence is still lacking.This study aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture in patients with DQt.A randomized controlled trial.A total of 68 subjects with DQt were recruited from outpatients of Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, and Chinese medicine clinics, The University of Hong Kong, and were randomized into the acupuncture group (n = 34) and the waitlist group (n = 34). Subjects in the acupuncture group received 5 acupuncture sessions over 2 weeks, followed by a 10-week follow-up. The waitlist control group received assessments only in the first 6 weeks of the waiting period and received the same acupuncture treatment and follow-up as the treatment group in the next 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the general pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the end of treatment (week 2). Secondary outcomes were grip and pinch strengths of affected hands, the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (Q-DASH), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) at weeks 2 and 6.From baseline to 2 weeks, the mean VAS score decreased by 19.5 points in the acupuncture group and by 3.4 points in the waitlist group. The difference for acupuncture vs waitlist control was -16.2 points (95% CI, -26.7 to -5.6, p = 0.003). Acupuncture effects sustained for 10 weeks (mean difference compared with baseline, -30.6; 95% CI, -39.6 to -21.7). Secondary outcomes showed that acupuncture reduced pain intensity, improved grip and pinch strength of affected hands, and Q-DASH scores, but not the scores of WHOQOL-BREF in patients. No serious adverse event occurred during the study period.Our findings support that 2-week of acupuncture is safe and effective in the reduction of pain intensity, and improvement of strengths and disabilities of hand in DQt patients. Acupuncture also has long-term effects on DQt.This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03472443).

Details

ISSN :
09447113
Volume :
104
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Phytomedicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....52e585e60bf365e0655991c95fc6b003
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154254