Acupoint thread embedding compared to or in combination with biofeedback for treating anismus: A retrospective cohort...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Integrative Medicine
• Pelvic Floor Disorders

Background:

• Anismus, a defecation disorder, is typically treated with Biofeedback Therapy (BFT), but its efficacy is limited and recurrence is high.
• Acupoint Thread Embedding (ATE), a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, offers sustained stimulation and may complement BFT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the short-term efficacy of ATE, BFT, and their combination for anismus.
• To explore the prognostic value of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome (TCMS) score in anismus treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 150 anismus patients divided into ATE, BFT, and ATE+BFT groups.
• Primary outcomes: Cleveland Clinic Constipation (CCC) and TCMS scores at 3 months posttreatment.
• Secondary outcomes: Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) score, effectiveness, and safety at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

Main Results:

• The ATE+BFT group showed significantly lower CCC, TCMS, and PAC-QOL scores at 3 months posttreatment compared to BFT alone.
• The combination therapy resulted in the highest total effectiveness rate (85.00%).
• A ≥5-point reduction in TCMS score at 3 months posttreatment independently predicted a favorable outcome.

Conclusions:

• Combined ATE and BFT therapy is superior to monotherapy for short-term anismus management.
• Reduced TCMS scores are a significant predictor of favorable prognosis in anismus patients.
• Further research is needed as all scores returned to baseline by 6-month follow-up.