title: Efficacy of acupuncture versus local methylprednisolone acetate injection in De Quervain's tenosynovitis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: There is no consensus on the management of De Quervain's tenosynovitis, but local corticosteroid injection is considered the mainstay of treatment. However, some patients are reluctant to take steroid injections. This study was performed to compare the efficacy of acupuncture versus corticosteroid injection for the treatment of this disease. Thirty patients were consequently treated in two groups. The acupuncture group received five acupuncture sessions of 30 minutes duration on classic points of LI-5, LU-7, and LU-9 and on ahshi points. The injection group received one methylprednisolone acetate injection in the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. The degree of disability and pain was evaluated by using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Q-DASH) scale and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline and at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after the start of treatment. The baseline means of the Q-DASH and the VAS scores were 62.8 and 6.9, respectively. At the last follow-up, the mean Q-DASH scores were 9.8 versus 6.2 in the acupuncture and injection groups, respectively, and the mean VAS scores were 2 versus 1.2. We demonstrated short-term improvement of pain and function in both groups. Although the success rate was somewhat higher with corticosteroid injection, acupuncture can be considered as an alternative option for treatment of De Quervain's tenosynovitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadjavad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadianfard
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Burn Research Center, Geriatric Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Burn Research Center, Geriatric Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: maryamfakheri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maryamsadat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fakheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Aref
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasiri
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053684:De Quervain Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: De Quervain's disease; acupuncture; injections; methylprednisolone acetate