The Hong Kong Tuberculosis Association - The University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Southern District), Hong Kong, China.
School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Phytomedicine. 2022 Sep;104:154254. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154254. Epub 2022 Jun 14.
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).
针灸是治疗桡骨茎突狭窄性腱鞘炎（De Quervain's tenosynovitis，DQt）的一种替代方法，但目前仍缺乏试验证据。
本研究旨在评估针灸治疗 DQt 的疗效。
随机对照试验。
从香港大学矫形外科和创伤学系以及中医诊所的门诊患者中招募了 68 名 DQt 患者，并将其随机分为针灸组（n=34）和候补组（n=34）。针灸组接受 5 次针灸治疗，为期 2 周，然后进行 10 周随访。候补组在等待期的前 6 周仅接受评估，在接下来的 12 周内接受与治疗组相同的针灸治疗和随访。主要结局是治疗结束时（第 2 周）使用视觉模拟量表（Visual Analogue Scale，VAS）评估的一般疼痛强度。次要结局是患手的握力和捏力、快速上肢残疾问卷（Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score，Q-DASH）和世界卫生组织生活质量简表（World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief Questionnaire，WHOQOL-BREF）在第 2 周和第 6 周的评分。
从基线到第 2 周，针灸组的 VAS 评分平均下降 19.5 分，候补组下降 3.4 分。针灸组与候补组的差异为-16.2 分（95%CI，-26.7 至-5.6，p=0.003）。针灸效果持续 10 周（与基线相比的平均差异，-30.6；95%CI，-39.6 至-21.7）。次要结局显示，针灸可降低疼痛强度，改善患手的握力和捏力以及 Q-DASH 评分，但不能改善 WHOQOL-BREF 评分。研究期间未发生严重不良事件。
我们的研究结果支持，2 周的针灸治疗是安全有效的，可降低 DQt 患者的疼痛强度，并改善手部力量和功能。针灸对 DQt 也具有长期疗效。
本研究在 clinicaltrials.gov 注册（NCT03472443）。
