To observe the clinical efficacy of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of wrist triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury.

168 patients with mild to moderate TFCC injury were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to whether or not they were treated with electro-acupuncture. The experimental group with 78 cases was treated with electro-acupuncture combined with routine physical therapy, while the control group with 90 cases was treated with routine physical therapy only. The control group received physical therapy 3 times a day, 15 min each time. Besides the same physical therapy, the experimental group was treated with electroacupuncture once a day, 20 min each; In both groups, 7 d was a course of treatment, and there were totally 3 courses, with an interval of 3~4 days between each course. Visual analogue scale (VAS), modified Mayo wrist score (MMWS score), DASH score (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand), PRWE score (Patient Reported Wrist Evaluation) and treatment-related adverse reactions were recorded before treatment (T0), one week after treatment (T1), all three courses of electro-acupuncture (T2) and the last follow-up (T3). To evaluate the clinical efficacy of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of TFCC injury, the above indicators were compared between groups using two independent samples t-test and within groups at different time points before and after treatment using repeated measures ANOVA.

The average follow-up period was 18 months. There was no statistical difference between the two groups at T0 (t=0.276、1.641、1.345、1.278, all P>0.05). At T1 and T2, VAS, MMWS, DASH and PRWE scores in the experimental group were significantly different from those in the control group [t(T1)=3.696、4.230、4.537、4.929, all P<0.05); t(T2)=3.535、6.365、7.772、7.616, all P<0.05]. At T3, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between the experimental group and the control group (t=1.218, P>0.05). There were significant differences in MMWS, DASH and PRWE scores between two groups (t=7.339、11.288、5.632, all P<0.05). VAS and wrist function scores of the two groups were better than those in T0, and no serious complications related to treatment occurred during the treatment.

Electro-acupuncture combined with routine physical therapy is safe and effective in relieving wrist pain and restoring wrist function after TFCC injury.