Authors:

Background

The increasing users of smartphones and computers positively contribute to the incidence of De Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQt).  The clinical evidence of acupuncure for DQt is insufficient.

Methods

In this radomised controlled trial, sixty-eight patients with DQt were randomly allocated into the acupuncture group (n=34) and the waitlist group (n=34).  Subjects in the acupuncture group received five sesions of acupuncture for two weeks, followed by a 10-week follow-up.  Subjects in the waitlist group had the same assessments in the first 6 weeks of waiting period and received the same acupuncture treamtnet and follow-up as the treatment group in the next 12 weeks.  The primary outcome was the general pain intensity measure using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the end of the treatment.  Mean reduction 2-week VAS scores were compared by study group using mixed-effect model adjusted for baseline data.

Results

Among 68 patients, 58 (85.3%) completed the trial.  From baseline to 2 weeks, the mean VAS score decreased by 19.5 points in the acupuncture group and by 3.4 patinets in the waitlist group.  The difference for acupuncutre vs waitlist control was -16.2 points (95% CI, -26.7to -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).  No serious adverse occurred during the study period.

Conclusion

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 effect for DQt.