Clinical study of electroacupuncture and taking oral Mecobalamin tablets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.Methods:Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly divided into two groups with 40 patients in each group ( n=40). In the course of the treatment, 2 patients in each group dropped out, which means 38 patients in each group were included. All patients were instructed to actively control blood glucose The control group was given Mecobalamin tablets orally, while the treatment group was given electroacupuncture of Daling and Neiguan on the affected side based onthe control group for 6 weeks. The degree of pain was assessed by VAS, and the severity of clinical symptoms was assessed by the symptom scale of Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (BCTQ). The sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV), the amplitude of sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and the distal motor latency (DML) were detected by EMG evoked potential instrument. The clinical efficacy was evaluated and adverse events were recorded. Results:The total effective rate was 81.6% (31/38) in the treatment group and 60.5% (23/38) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.094, P=0.024). After the treatment, the scores of VAS and BCTQ in the treatment group were lower than those of the control group ( t=2.639, 2.790, P=0.010, 0.007); DML (3.62 ± 0.19 ms vs. 4.00 ± 0.17 ms, t=68.891) in the treatment group was lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01), while SCV (47.36 ± 0.18 m/s vs. 42.34 ± 0.14 m/s, t=97.163) and SNAP (14.74 ± 0.18 μV vs. 12.10 ± 0.16 μV, t=51.434) in the treatment group were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.01). During the treatment, no serious adverse events occurred in two groups. Conclusions:Electroacupuncture is safe and effective in the treatment of mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome with type 2 diabetes. It can reduce the degree of pain and improve the symptoms of wrist joint.