The efficacy of acupuncture on pain and functional status in patients with lower extremity amputation with stump neuroma: A prospective randomised controlled pilot study

Abstract

Considering the low success rate of the treatment of neuroma, it is important to apply effective treatment methods alone or in combination with other approaches. This study was aimed to determine the effect of acupuncture treatment on pain severity and functional status in patients with lower extremity amputation with stump neuroma. Thirty below-knee amputees with symptomatic stump neuromas took part in this prospective randomised controlled study. Patients were randomised into two groups an acupuncture treatment group ( n = 15) or a control group ( n = 15). A rehabilitation program and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was applied to the patients in both groups. All assessments (except for the 2 min walk test) were performed pre-treatment, post-treatment and 12 weeks after treatment. In both groups, there was significant decrease in VAS scores-at rest, -with movement, -at night and LANSS scores both at post-treatment and follow up at 12 weeks. A significant increase was detected in the distance walked in the 2 min walk test at post-treatment ( p = 0.001). Between two-group comparisons showed that VAS-at rest, VAS-with movement, LANSS and 2 min walk test scores changed between pre-treatment-post-treatment were significant in favor of acupuncture treatment group ( p = 0.002, p = 0.021, p = 0.001, p <0.001, respectively) (Table 3). It was observed that VAS-at rest, VAS-with movement, VAS-at night and LANSS scores changed between pre-treatment and at 12 weeks follow up were more statistically significant for the acupuncture treatment group ( p = 0.002, p = 0.015, p = 0.05, p <0.001, respectively) compared with the control group. Considering the low success rate of stump neuroma treatment methods and the high rate of neuroma recurrence, acupuncture therapy can be safely added to existing treatments. NCT05244369.