NCT04603274

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Clinical, Electrophysiologic and Ultrasonographic Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (actual)
• Sponsor: Aretaieion University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this clinical study is to assess the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in reducing the severity of symptoms, in improving limb function, in improving the aesthetic and motor conduction of the median nerve and in reducing its cross-sectional area at the inlet of the carpal tunnel in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. All upper extremities diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome will be treated with electroacupuncture for 8 sessions. Clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonography outcome measures will be evaluated before and after the intervention, to assess the result.

Detailed 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 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.

Conditions

• Carpal Tunnel
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Pain
• Pain Syndrome
• Pain Syndrome Myofascial

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	8 sessions of electroacupuncture to the upper limb with carpal tunnel syndrome	All participants will accept 8 sessions of electroacupuncture, 2 days a week for 1 month by experienced physicians. Acupuncture sterile disposable needles 0,25x 0,25 mm will be inserted for 20 minutes at specific acupuncture points to all patients. Electrical stimulation will be applied at specific acupuncture points for 20 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-07-01
• Primary completion: 2021-12-31
• Completion: 2021-12-31
• First posted: 2020-10-26
• Last updated: 2022-02-01

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Greece