Abstract
BackgroundElectroacupuncture (EA) alleviates chronic pain and acute postoperative pain after several surgical procedures. However, whether EA facilitates postoperative functional recovery after arthroscopic surgery has yet to be determined. This study investigated the short-term effect of EA on a rehabilitation course after arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) repair.MethodsForty-two patients undergoing arthroscopic TFCC repair were randomised to an EA group (n = 19) or control group (n = 23). In the EA group, patients received EA treatment and standard active rehabilitation for 4 weeks. In the control group, patients received standard active rehabilitation for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment and at the follow-up visit 4 weeks after the treatment, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, wrist range of motion (ROM), handgrip strength, and key pinch strength were collected and analysed.ResultsThe EA group improved significantly than the control group in terms of DASH scores, all wrist motion arcs, and key pinch strength (P < 0.05) at the end of the 4-week treatment and the follow-up visit another 4 weeks later.ConclusionPatients treated with 4 weeks of EA after the arthroscopic TFCC repair had better wrist ROM and DASH scores than patients of control group
Highlights
Electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates chronic pain and acute postoperative pain after several surgical procedures
Our main findings were that patients treated with EA had significantly improved DASH scores and wrist range of motion (ROM) in the early rehabilitation period than those who had only received active rehabilitation after arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) repair
Our study indicated that in combination with active rehabilitation exercise, EA is a safe and effective procedure for wrist function and ROM recovery in postoperative rehabilitation courses following arthroscopic TFCC repair
Summary
Electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates chronic pain and acute postoperative pain after several surgical procedures. This study investigated the short-term effect of EA on a rehabilitation course after arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) repair. Arthroscopic repair for triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear is a standard procedure with favourable outcomes because of its quicker recovery time and fewer complications than open repair [1, 2]. Postoperative pain is a major factor hindering progress in physical therapy, restricting the recovery of Acupuncture is a time-honoured therapy for acute and chronic pain and has considerable effects on alleviating pain after spine, shoulder, and knee surgical procedures [5,6,7,8,9]. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of EA on a rehabilitation course after arthroscopic TFCC repair
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