A single case study: Acupuncture in the treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is a syndrome involving compression at the superior thoracic outlet, resulting from excess pressure placed on a neurovascular bundle passing between the anterior scalene and middle scalene muscles. This can be caused from trauma disease and congenital problem. Pressure on nerves(brachial plexus)can cause a vague, aching pain in the neck, shoulder and arm, or even cause numbness on the inside of the forearm and the 4th,5th finger. Acupuncture is effective in managing pain problem and can be one of the effective methods for managing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: This study reports a 74 years old man presented with 2-years neck pain, and right upper limb numbness and pain, Adson’s Test showed positive result and was diagnosed as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The patient had good past health with mild hypertension. Tongue was red with thin white coating, pulse was wiry. METHOD: The patient was treated with acupuncture together with electrical stimulation.SI16,LI17,LI18,ST12,EX-HN15 and Ah-Shi points were chosen and the EA stimulation was given at discontinuous wave with frequency of 60Hz for 25mins.Twice a week, total end up with 10times treatment. RESULT The patient showed significant improvement after 1 month treatment, he felt the pain was gone but still presented with mild numbness over his 4th,5th finger. Numbness disappeared after 2months. CONCLUSION: Nowadays, conservative treatments such as medication, rest, physical therapy are mainly involved for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. This article reveals that acupuncture can be another effective treatment for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. However, more research is necessary to investigate the effect of acupuncture for this kind of problem.