Résumé
Objective To investigate the effect of wheat-grain size cone moxibustion plus acupuncture on related high-frequency ultrasonographic indicators before and after its treatment of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome and explore its mechanism of action. Method Sixty patients were randomized to an acupuncture group (20 cases) and a wheat-grain size cone moxibustion groups (40 cases). The acupuncture group received acupuncture at affected-side points Daling (PC7), Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6) and Shousanli (LI10). The wheat-grain size cone moxibustion group received wheat-grain size cone moxibustion on point Daling and acupuncture at the other points. Treatment was given once every other day for a total of 10 times. The thickness of the transverse carpal ligament, the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the level of the pisiform bone and the flattening ratio at the level of the hamate hook were measured by high frequency ultrasonography before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated using the SSS score. Result After treatment, the SSS score decreased in both groups compared with before (P<0.05) and was lower in the wheat-grain size cone moxibustion group than in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The cure and marked efficacy rate was 71.1％ in the wheat-grain size cone moxibustion groupwhich was higher than 42.1％ in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the thickness of the transverse carpal ligament and the flattening ratio at the level of the hamate hook in the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the level of the pisiform bone decreased in both groups compared with before (P<0.05) and was smaller in the wheat-grain size cone moxibustion group than in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusion Wheat-grain size cone moxibustion plus acupuncture can markedly improve the clinical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Its mechanism of action is related to reducing the cross-sectional area and edema of the median nerve.