Comparison study of the curative effect between interventional ultrasound and microwave in the treatment of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of interventional ultrasound and microwave in the treatment of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS). Methods A total of 42 cases of post-stroke SHS (stage Ⅰ) were randomized to receive microwave combined with routine rehabilitation training (control group, N = 19) and interventional ultrasound combined with routine rehabilitation training (treatment group, N = 23), respectively. Before and 3 d, 10 d after treatment, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate shoulder joint pain, and measure the swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints. Before and 10 d after treatment, Fugl - Meyer Assessment Scale for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Barthel Index (BI) were used to assess upper limb motor function and activities of daily living (ADL). Results There was statistically significant difference between 2 groups at different time points on VAS score (P = 0.000) and swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints (P = 0.000). VAS score (control group: P = 0.000, 0.000; treatment group: P = 0.000, 0.000) and swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints (control group: P = 0.042, 0.000; treatment group: P = 0.000, 0.000) at 3 and 10 d after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment. VAS score (P = 0.000, 0.000) and swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints (P = 0.000, 0.000) 10 d after treatment were significantly lower than 3 d after treatment. Compared with before treatment, both VAS score (P = 0.031) and swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints (P = 0.000) in 2 groups were significantly lower, while FMA-UE (P = 0.000) and BI (P = 0.000) scores were significantly higher after treatment. Conclusions Both interventional ultrasound and microwave combined with routine rehabilitation training can improve shoulder joint pain, swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints, upper limb motor function and ADL of patients with post - stroke SHS. The effect of interventional ultrasound with routine rehabilitation training is better than that of microwave combined with routine rehabilitation training in improving shoulder joint pain, swelling degree of dorsum of hand and metacarpophalangeal joints. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.06.006