Scalp Electroacupuncture (SEA) Attenuates Pain Intensity and Improves Functional Activity in Patients with Complex Reginal Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

摘要

Background: CRPS is a perplexing and challenging disease to treat. Recently, scalp acupuncture inserting subcutaneouslytwo points ‘sensory’ areas of the corresponding decrease pain intensity and improve muscle strength of a patient of spinalcord injury. A modified scalp electro-acupuncture (SEA) method is based on inserting subcutaneously to four points of thecorresponding ‘sensory and motor’ areas on the scalp. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether this modified SEAmethod attenuates pain intensity and improve functional activity in CRPS patients of upper limb.Methods: After obtaining approval from our committee on human research and informed consents, consecutive ten patientswith CRPS were enrolled in this study. The patients were evaluated degrees of pain by NRS and muscle strength in affectedhands by a squeeze dynamometer at the time of pre-treatment and after 5, 10, 15 and 20 sessions. The modified SEA methodis done by inserting needles which were inserted subcutaneously to four points of the corresponding ‘sensory and motor’areas on the scalp with stimulation at 150 Hz for 20 min. at three times per week.Statistics: Data were analyzed with One Way Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance and multiple in comparison with Pretreatment group was done by Holm-Sidak method. A significant difference was presumed at P < 0.05.Results: NRS of the patients before treatment was 7.9. It decreased significantly to 4.5., 3.3., 3.2 and 3.0 after 5, 10, 15 and20 SEA sessions, respectively (P < 0.05). The value of a squeeze dynamometer of the affected hand increased significantlyfrom 8.6.6.5 kg (Pre-treatment) to 14.9 kg and 19.8 kg, 18.2 kg, and 19.8 kg after 5, 10, 15 and 20 SEA sessions, respectively(P < 0.05).Conclusions: This SEA method was an easy and inexpensive way to attenuate pain and improve functional activities inpatients with CRPS of upper limb.