title: [Efficacy observation of carpal tunnel syndrome treated with electroacupuncture].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the impacts of electroacupuncture on median nerve conduction velocity and morphology in patients of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture on CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty cases of CTS were treated with electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Yangchi (TE 4), Shousanli (LI 10), Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side, combined with semiconductor laser irradiation at Shenmen (HT 7) and Yangxi (LI 5) on the affected side. The improvements in the symptoms and changes in nerve conduction velocity and ultrasound morphology were observed before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30). The median nerve conduction velocity was accelerated apparently and the amplitude was increased after treatment as compared with those before treatment, indicating the statistically significant difference (all P<0.001). The distal motor latency was shortened apparently (P<0.001) and the motor amplitude had no apparent change (P>0.05). The proximal median nerve swelling was relieved apparently after treatment (P<0.05) and the effective rate was 36.7% (11/30). There was no apparent difference in the ratio of the vertical and horizontal diameters of carpal tunnel after treatment as compared with that before treatment (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroacupuncture presents the positive repair function to the median nerve in the patients of CTS. It can effectively alleviate inflammatory reaction and relieve ischemia and swelling of nerve fibers. And it cannot induce the changes in morphology in a short term.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Department of TCM, First Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University Dalian 116011, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xiao-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiu-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult