Efficacy of Electroacupuncture in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Summary

Participation Requirements

Description

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common mononeuritis, with a significant burden on both patients and public health. For mild and moderate cases, conservative methods, including immobilization, corticosteroid injections, oral medications and physical therapy have been suggested as appropriate...

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common mononeuritis, with a significant burden on both patients and public health. For mild and moderate cases, conservative methods, including immobilization, corticosteroid injections, oral medications and physical therapy have been suggested as appropriate treatments, with mixed results. Acupuncture and related therapies has been used worldwide over the last few years in the management of CTS, with generally positive results. However, more studies will be needed to assess the role of acupuncture as an independent therapeutic modality to CTS. This is a clinical study that will be conducted in the pain clinic at the department of Anaesthesiology of Aretaieion University Hospital as well as in the Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy of University of West Attica, with which there is a cooperation agreement. All recruited participants will be treated with the same acupuncture protocol at the limb that will be diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. If the patients are diagnosed with bilateral CTS, both wrists will be treated. Clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonography outcomes will be measured before and after the intervention. In order to record the possible influence of psychosomatic characteristics, the Greek version of the Hospital Anxiety & Depression (HAD) Scale will be used before the treatment. As a result the anxiety and the depression of the participants will be quantified with a simple clinical tool. All participants will accept 8 sessions of electroacupuncture, 2 days a week for 1 month by experienced physicians. All participants in the study will be evaluated 3-7 days before and 3-7 days after the treatment protocol with clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographical outcome measures. In patients with bilateral symptoms, each limb will be assessed separately.

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