Clinical application of ultrasound-guided acupotomy combined with platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome

Guofei JiWenxian Chen^*

• Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, China

Background: To assess the impact of ultrasound-guided acupotomy combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: Seventy-two CTS patients admitted to our hospital from June 2022 to December 2024 were divided into the control group and study group. The control group accepted ultrasound-guided acupotomy combined with dextrose 5% water (D5W) treatment. The study group accepted ultrasound-guided acupotomy combined with PRP therapy. The clinical efficacy, degree of pain, wrist joint function, median nerve conduction indicators, incidence of complications and activities of daily living were compared in both groups. Results: Compared to the control group, the study group had higher total effective rate along with lower incidence of complications (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the VAS score, BCTQ-SSS score and BCTQ-FSS score were declined and ADL score was elevated in both groups at one, three and six months following treatment (P<0.05). Relative to the control group, the study group had lower VAS score, BCTQ-SSS score and BCTQ-FSS score as well as higher ADL score at one, three and six months following treatment (P<0.05). Relative to before treatment, the values of SNCV, MSCV and CMAP amplitude were elevated in both groups following treatment (P<0.05). Relative to the control group, the study group had higher values of SNCV, MSCV and CMAP amplitude at one, three and six months following treatment (P<0.05). Relative to before treatment, the anterior-posterior diameter of the median nerve in the cross section of the hamate bone in both groups was longer after treatment (P<0.05), and the transverse area of the median nerve in the cross section of the lenticular bone and the thickness of the transverse wrist ligament were smaller at one, three and six months following treatment (P<0.05). Nevertheless, there were no differences in the changes of the above ultrasound examination parameters between 2 groups after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided acupotomy + PRP therapy has effective clinical efficacy in the treatment of CTS, which can alleviate the degree of pain, improve wrist joint function, promote the activities of daily living, reduce the incidence of complications as well as improve the median nerve conduction.