The effect of phlebotomy (Fasd) on carpal tunnel syndrome; a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Author(s): Leila Hashemi Chelavi, Reza Ilkhani*, Mohadeseh Azadvari, Hoorieh Mohammadi Kenari and Gholamreza Kordafshari

Background and Purpose: Phlebotomy has been broadly used as an assured and economical technique to tackle soft tissue lesions in ITM (Iranian Traditional Medicine), most Asian countries, Central Europe, and some parts of the US. In this study, phlebotomy was used for the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) that is widely recognized as the most common neuropathy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of phlebotomy on the clinical and diagnostic findings of patients with CTS. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial. For this analysis, an entire of 70 hands with CTS were studied, aged 20-60, and of every gender. The participants were divided into 2 groups: Control and Intervention. Within the control group, 35 were treated with a routine night splint for 3 months, and 35 patients in the intervention group, were received Fasd (Phlebotomy) of Osailem vein in addition to the routine night splint. The variables of which we evaluated were: pain, symptom severity, functional status, distal median nerve sensory latency, and distal median nerve motor latency. The pain has been evaluating by VAS Scale while the severity of symptoms and functional status of patients were evaluated by the Boston questionnaire, and the distal and motor nerve latency were evaluated through the diagnostic NCV test. Results: The results of the study demonstrated an incontestable improvement in symptom severity (P=0/0001) and functional status [Significant treatment effects for the Boston CTS- score (P=?0007)]. Additionally a serious decrease in Median nerve entrapment with NCV (p=0?015) of the intervention group in comparison with the control one. Pain severity of CTS symptoms (VAS), was also reduced significantly from 61.5 ± 20?5 to18.9 ± 15?7mm after 3 months in the phlebotomy group and from 67?1 ± 20?2 to 52?7 ± 21?8mm in the control group [group difference –33.8mm (P<?001). Conclusions: The results showed that the incorporation of phlebotomy (Fasd) treatment in an exceedingly routine therapy program would reduce the pain and symptom severity, improve the functional status of patients, and distal sensory and motor disturbance of the median nerve. Therefore, it is advised that phlebotomy (Fasd), as a convenient and low?cost complementary medicine technique could be employed within the treatment of CTS.

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