Sinew Acupuncture for de Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Background: Prevalence of de Quervain's Tenosynovitis (dQt) is estimated at 0.5% among men and 1.3% among women. As there is an increasing length of time in smart phone usage, the prevalence is believed to be higher in the future. However, the public has a common avoidance of corticosteroid usage. Although the surgical treatment of the disease is reported to be effective in providing long term relief, its complications include radial sensory nerve injury, incomplete decompression, and volar subluxation of the tendons. The above factors raised the need of alternative treatments. Sinew Acupuncture is a new acupuncture technique developed based on the Jing-jin theory from "Huangdi Neijing" the tradition Chinese Medicine classic literature. Previous observational studies indicated that sinew acupuncture had the immediate analgesic effect on soft tissue injuries at various locations. It is a subcutaneous and transverse needling which minimizes the pain, sore, swelling sensations of acupuncture. A controlled study includes longer follow-up is needed for providing evidence for this alternative treatment , which is safe and with the least undesired sensation. Aims: 1. To determine whether sinew acupuncture can reduce pain (measured by Visual Analogue Scale VAS) of dQt patients. 2. To determine whether sinew acupuncture can reduce disability (measured by pinch strength, grip strength and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Q-DASH questionnaire ) of dQt patients. 3. To determine whether sinew acupuncture can improve life quality (measured WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Questionnaire) of dQt patients Design: A randomised subject trial will be employed. A total of 68 cases will be recruited in the study and allocated into study and wait-list control group under ratio 1:1. Treatment group participants will receive 5 treatments in 2 weeks and follow-up sessions after 6 and 12 weeks. Wait-list control group participants will receive same treatment and assessm