Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Flexor Tendon Repair, Hand Surgery, Laser Acupuncture
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of laser acupuncture in alleviating CTS symptoms following flexor tendon repair in the hand.
Detailed description
This study holds significant importance for clinical practice, patient care, and research. * Clinical Practice: It provides a potential framework for physical therapists to design targeted and effective interventions for laser acupuncture on CTS following flexor tendon repair in the hand. * Patient Care: Improved rehabilitation outcomes can enhance patients' physical functionality, independence, and overall quality of life, addressing a critical gap in post-operative complications. * Research Advancement: By contributing to the limited body of literature on laser acupuncture in this context, the study can stimulate further research and innovation in carpal tunnel syndrome following hand flexor tendon repair.
Interventions
DEVICELaser acupuncture
Laser acupuncture is a modern, non-invasive approach to acupuncture that uses low-level laser therapy (LLLT) instead of traditional needles to stimulate acupuncture points. This technique combines the principles of traditional Chinese medicine with modern technology to provide pain relief and promote healing (Chon et al., 2019). * Device: UNIPHY PHYACTION 740, made in EEC device. * Laser type: Gallium aluminum arsenide laser. * Wavelength: 808 nm. * Power Output: 200 mW. * Dose/energy density: 4J/point. * Frequency of treatment: Three times weekly for 8 weeks. * Duration: 12 min. * Cumulative dose: 48J/point. * Target Acupuncture Points: Key points for CTS: PC4 (Ximen), PC6 (Neiguan), PC7 (Daling), PC8 (Laogong), LI4 (Hegu), LI10 (Shousanli), LI11 (Quchi), HT-2 (Qingling), HT7 (Shenmen), HT-8 (Shaofu), LU9 (Taiyuan) and LU10 (Yuji)
OTHERTraditional Therapy
* Splinting/Bracing: Patients in the two groups will advised to wear a static wrist splint locked at 0\_ wrist flexion for at least 8 h at night throughout the entire length of the study as the primary management which reduce pressure on the median nerve. * Physical Therapy: Engaging in specific exercises, such as nerve glide exercises and wrist stretches, can improve mobility and reduce symptoms. These exercises aim to restore normal movement of the median nerve and alleviate compression
Sponsors
Cairo University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 20-40 years who have undergone flexor tendon repair surgery. * Patients who have undergone primary or secondary repair of flexor tendons in the hand at zone 4 (zone of carpal tunnel as it often be complicated by postoperative adhesions due to close quarters and synovial sheath of the carpal tunnel) (Fulchignoni C et al., 2020). * Surgery occurred within a specific timeframe, often within 6-12 weeks prior to inclusion (Peters SE, Jha B, Ross M., 2021). * Patient have clinical and electro diagnostic evidence of CTS. * All patients enrolled to the study will have their informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Pre-existing neurological disorders. * Systemic illnesses affecting nerve function (e.g., diabetes). * Contraindications to laser therapy. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Active infections or open wounds in the hand or wrist. * Previous history of carpal tunnel release surgery or received an injection of steroid for CTS. * Previous history of brachial plexus injury or median nerve injury. * Other severe neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. * Epilepsy or any psychological disorders. * Cancer. * Spots over the treated points. * Pacemaker or implanted devices.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Symptom Relief: | At baseline and after 8 weeks | Measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, numbness, and tingling. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| - Grip Strength: | Measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention (8 weeks). | Measured with a hand dynamometer to assess the strength of hand muscles. |
| - Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV): | baseline and 8 weeks. | Measured to assess median nerve conduction before and after the intervention |
Countries
Egypt
Contacts
Primary ContactMahmoud Adel Abde-Hakim Amin, Physical Therapist
Outcome results
None listed