Acupuncture in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ~ A Randomized Controlled Trial
Acupuncture in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ~ A Randomized Controlled Trial
To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture compared with steroid treatment in patients with
 mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as measured by objective changes in nerve
 conduction studies (NCS) and subjective symptoms assessment in a randomized, controlled
 study.
A total of 77 consecutive and prospective CTS patients confirmed by NCS were enrolled in the
 study. Those who had fixed sensory complaint over the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy
 were excluded. The CTS patients were randomly divided into 2 treatment arms: (1) 2 weeks of
 prednisolone 20 mg daily followed by 2 weeks of prednisolone 10 mg daily (n =39), and
 (2)acupuncture administered in 8 sessions over 4 weeks (n=38). A validated standard
 questionnaire as a subjective measurement was used to rate the 5 major symptoms (pain,
 numbness, paresthesia,weakness/clumsiness, and nocturnal awakening) on a scale from 0 (no
 symptoms) to 10 (very severe). The total score in each of the 5 categories was termed the
 global symptom score (GSS). Patients completed standard questionnaires at baseline and 2 and
 4 weeks later. The changes in GSS were analyzed to evaluate the statistical significance. NCS
 were performed at baseline and repeated at the end of the study to assess improvement. All
 main analyses used intent-to-treat.
Inclusion Criteria:

 presence of at least one of the following primary symptoms:

 1. numbness, tingling pain, or paresthesia in the median nerve distribution;

 2. precipitation of these symptoms by repetitive hand activities, which could be relieved
 by resting, rubbing, and shaking the hand; and

 3. nocturnal awakening by such sensory symptoms.- plus the presence of 1 or more of the
 following standard electrophysiologic criteria:

 -  (1) prolonged distal motor latency (DML) to the abductor pollicis brevis
 (APB)(abnormal Z4.7 ms, stimulation over the wrist, 8 cm proximal to the active
 electrode);

 -  (2) prolonged antidromic distal sensory latency (DSL) to the second digit
 (abnormal Z3.1 ms; stimulation over the wrist, 14 cm proximal to the active
 electrode); and

 -  (3) prolonged antidromic wrist-palm sensory nerve conduction velocity (W-P SNCV)
 at a distance of 8 cm (W-P SNCV, abnormal <45 m/s).

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. symptoms occurring less than 3 months before the study or symptoms improving during
 the 1-month initial observation period (to exclude patients who might have spontaneous
 resolution of symptoms);

 2. severe CTS that had progressed to visible muscle atrophy;

 3. in our study, mild CTS referred to patients with decreased conduction velocity over
 the palm-wrist segment and delayed DSL, with normal median SNAP amplitude and CMAP
 amplitude of the APB. Moderate CTS referred to patients with abnormally delayed DML
 and DSL with either decreased median SNAP amplitude or decreased CMAP amplitude of the
 APB muscle. Thus, CTS patients with the presence of either fibrillation potentials or
 reinnervation on needle EMG in the APB were excluded (to ensure the inclusion of only
 mildly or moderately affected individuals);

 4. clinical or electrophysiologic evidence of accompanying conditions that could mimic
 CTS or interfere with its evaluation, such as cervical radiculopathy, proximal median
 neuropathy, or significant polyneuropathy;

 5. evidence of obvious underlying causes of CTS such as diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid
 arthritis, hypothyroidism (acromegaly), pregnancy, alcohol abuse or drug usage
 (steroids or drugs acting through the central nervous system), use of vibrating
 machinery, and suspected malignancy or inflammation or autoimmune disease were
 documented as underlying causes for CTS;

 6. recent peptic ulcer or history of steroid intolerance;

 7. prior unpleasant experience with acupuncture or a bleeding diathesis; or

 8. cognitive impairment interfering with the patient's ability to follow instructions and
 describe symptoms.-