The Effects of Acupotomy Therapy on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Report of 4 Cases

Abstract

The aim of this report was to show the effects of acupotomy in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Four patients were treated with acupotomy twice. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Tinel`s sign, Phalen`s test, Boston carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire (BCTQ), muscular strength test, and a cross-sectional area of median nerve was measured using ultrasound before and after treatment. In all 4 cases, the VAS score, BCTQ score and cross-sectional area of median nerve, all decreased and muscular strength test score increased. Tinel`s sign and the Phalen`s test changed from a positive to a negative in most cases. This report shows that acupotomy is an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Further larger are needed to fully evaluate the beneficial effects of this treatment.

A Case Report of Changes in Median Nerve Thickness Observed During Acupotomy Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Focusing on Musculoskeletal Acupoint Ultrasonography

“…실제 카데바의 손목을 분 석하였을때, 수근관 원위부의 중앙과 척측부, 근위부의 요측부 에서 수근관이 가장 두꺼워짐을 관찰할 수 있었다 18) . 증상이 경미한 경우에는 고정, 스테로이드 주사 등의 보존 적 치료를 시행하지만 수술적 개입을 통해 치료하는 경우도 흔 하다 19) . 일반적인 외과적 치료법으로는 횡수근 인대를 절개하 여 수근관 내 압력을 완화시키고, 구조물의 압박을 덜어준다.…”

Safety and Effectiveness of Fluoroscopy-Guided Acupotomy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized, Patient-Assessor Blind, Parallel Clinical Trial

“…It has been reported in randomized controlled trials that acupuncture treatment of CTS alleviates symptoms and improves nerve conduction compared with sham acupuncture or oral intake of steroids [14][15][16], but more acupotomy research in the treatment of CTS is necessary. One study reported that acupotomy can be a good option to treat CTS by reducing the cross-section area of the median nerve [17]. Acupotomy can be effective when acupotomy treatment is conducted in the correct anatomical region.…”

“…Reasoning for treatment provided, based on historical context, literature sources, and/or consensus methods, with references where appropriate Zhu HZ, Acupotomy, Chinese Medicine Publishing Company 1992[1] Literature sources about acupotomy in carpal tunnel syndrome[17] 1 c) Extent to which treatment was variedFixed 1 Details of Needling 2 a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session (mean and range where relevant) 1 acupoint 2 b) Names (or location if no standard name) of points used (uni/bilateral) 1) PC 7 2) unilateral (lesion side) 2 c) Depth of insertion, based on a specified unit of measurement, or on a particular tissue level Experimental group: Insertion to the sites of the transverse carpal ligament attachment to bony structures such as tubercle of scaphoid, tubercle of trapezium, hook of hamate, pisiform guided by fluoroscopy Control group: Based on the gol-do-bun-chon method, in a depth of 3 to 5 pun (1/10 chon) if the needle is injected perpendicularly to skin surface, or 5 to 8 pun, obliquely 2 d) Response sought (e.g. de qi or muscle twitch response) Tingling sensation in palmar region by manual stimulation 2 e) Needle stimulation (e.g.…”

Biodegradable microneedle acupuncture has equivalent efficacy to traditional intradermal acupuncture for dry eye disease: A pilot single-blinded, randomized controlled trial

“…[9] Acupuncture is the most commonly used Korean medical therapy for DED in clinical practice. Prior studies have also consistently demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture for DED, [10][11][12][13] but these have been mainly published as case reports.…”