Electroacupuncture vs Topical Diclofenac Sodium Gel for Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis

Hand Osteoarthritis Clinical Trial

Official title: Electroacupuncture vs Topical Diclofenac Sodium Gel for Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disorder characterized by pain, stiffness, and bony enlargements/swellings of multiple joints, in particular distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and first carpometacarpal (CMC) joints. Symptomatic hand OA is estimated to affecting 15.9% of women and 8.2% of men in the general population with a variable disease course, occurring more frequently in the elderly. Many factors including age, gender, obesity, genetic predisposition, joint deformity, joint hypermobility, and trauma are implicated in the development of hand OA. In addition to pain and stiffness, patients with hand OA often suffer from the reduced grip and pinch strength, decreased range of motion in involved and noninvolved joints, and difficulty performing dexterous tasks, resulting in disability in activities of daily living and considerable frustration.

At present, no therapies can completely cure hand OA and few therapeutic options with proven effectiveness for hand OA exist. Diclofenac sodium gel (DSG) is one of the commonly used topical NSAIDs, which can provide local pain relief for patients with hand OA with reduced systemic exposure, potentially reducing the risk of adverse events (AE). Acupuncture is effective in a host of pain-related conditions, ranging from low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, migraine to pain from knee OA. The research on the effects of acupuncture in people with hand OA is very limited.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of 4-week electroacupuncture(EA) compared to topical DSG in the treatment of hand OA. Our primary hypothesis was that EA would result in a greater pain relief improvement in hand OA compared with topical DSG.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hand Osteoarthritis
• Osteoarthritis

• NCT number: NCT04402047
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
• Contact: weiming wang, MD, PhD
• Phone: 010-88001241
• Email: wangweiming1a1@163.com
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 1, 2020
• Completion date: February 28, 2023