Outcomes, by follow-up time
| Outcome | Change from baseline, mean (95% CI) | Change in score, MD (95% CI)* | p* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment group (electroacupuncture with nocturnal splinting) | Control group (nocturnal splinting only) | |||
| BCTQ score | ||||
| SSS | ||||
| Week 1 | 0.04 (−0.03 to 0.12) | 0.01 (−0.08 to 0.10) | 0.02 (−0.09 to 0.13) | 0.8 |
| Week 2 | −0.01 (−0.09 to 0.07) | −0.02 (−0.13 to 0.08) | −0.01 (−0.13 to 0.11) | 0.9 |
| Week 5 | −0.17 (−0.28 to −0.06) | −0.06 (−0.19 to 0.07) | −0.15 (−0.29 to −0.01) | 0.04 |
| Week 17 | −0.25 (−0.37 to −0.12) | −0.09 (−0.25 to 0.06) | −0.20 (−0.36 to −0.03) | 0.02 |
| FSS | ||||
| Week 1 | 0.14 (0.05 to 0.23) | 0.09 (0.00 to 0.18) | 0.05 (−0.08 to 0.17) | 0.5 |
| Week 2 | 0.11 (0.00 to 0.22) | 0.07 (−0.04 to 0.17) | 0.03 (−0.12 to 0.17) | 0.7 |
| Week 5 | −0.01 (−0.12 to 0.11) | 0.06 (−0.07 to 0.18) | −0.09 (−0.24 to 0.06) | 0.3 |
| Week 17 | −0.16 (−0.28 to −0.04) | 0.02 (−0.13 to 0.17) | −0.22 (−0.38 to −0.05) | 0.01 |
| DASH score | ||||
| Week 1 | 0.09 (−1.65 to 1.82) | 0.36 (−1.76 to 2.48) | −0.44 (−3.09 to 2.21) | 0.8 |
| Week 2 | −1.45 (−3.48 to 0.58) | −0.54 (−3.02 to 1.94) | −1.11 (−4.19 to 1.97) | 0.5 |
| Week 5 | −4.02 (−6.48 to −1.56) | −0.87 (−3.92 to 2.19) | −3.50 (−7.16 to 0.16) | 0.06 |
| Week 17 | −7.75 (−10.55 to −4.95) | −1.53 (−5.15 to 2.09) | −6.72 (−10.9 to −2.57) | < 0.01 |
| NRS on pain intensity | ||||
| Week 1 | −0.22 (−0.68 to 0.23) | −0.43 (−0.89 to 0.04) | −0.14 (−0.40 to 0.68) | 0.6 |
| Week 2 | −0.30 (−0.81 to 0.21) | −0.50 (−1.01 to 0.01) | 0.13 (−0.46 to 0.72) | 0.7 |
| Week 5 | −0.68 (−1.18 to −0.19) | −0.55 (−1.11 to 0.02) | −0.22 (−0.81 to 0.36) | 0.5 |
| Week 17 | −1.22 (−1.79 to −0.65) | −0.61 (−1.22 to 0.00) | −0.70 (−1.34 to −0.06) | 0.03 |
| SWMT sensation diameter at week 17, mm | ||||
| Thumb | −0.29 (−0.43 to −0.14) | −0.17 (−0.28 to −0.06) | −0.05 (−0.21 to 0.11) | 0.5 |
| First finger | −0.28 (−0.41 to −0.15) | −0.12 (−0.22 to −0.01) | −0.08 (−0.22 to 0.06) | 0.3 |
| Middle finger | −0.28 (−0.40 to −0.15) | −0.13 (−0.24 to −0.01) | −0.11 (−0.26 to 0.04) | 0.2 |
| Little finger | −0.15 (−0.26 to −0.03) | −0.14 (−0.26 to −0.03) | −0.02 (−0.16 to 0.12) | 0.8 |
| Time to complete DMMPUT at Week 17, s | ||||
| Not blinded | −2.11 (−4.36 to 0.13) | −0.80 (−3.21 to 1.61) | −1.87 (−4.61 to 0.88) | 0.2 |
| Blinded | −6.50 (−9.84 to −3.15) | −0.32 (−4.27 to 3.63) | −6.13 (−10.6 to −1.63) | < 0.01 |
| Tip pinch strength at week 17, lb | 1.75 (1.27 to 2.22) | 0.52 (−0.02 to 1.06) | 1.17 (0.48 to 1.86) | < 0.01 |
Note: BCTQ = Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, CI = confidence interval, DASH = Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire, DMMPUT = Dellon–modified Moberg pick-up test, FSS = Functional Status Scale, MD = mean difference, NRS = numeric rating scale, SSS = Symptom Severity Scale, SWMT = Semmes–Weinstein Monofilament Test.
↵* The estimated MD for changes in score and p values of scores between groups were obtained using analysis of covariance.