OBJECTIVETo compare the curative effects on stenosing tenovaginitis of flexor digitorum treated with acupuncture knife therapy and blocking therapy so as to explore the better method.

METHODSThree hundred and four cases were randomly divided into acupuncture knife therapy group (164 cases) and blocking therapy group (140 cases). In acupuncture knife therapy group, hooking and cutting were applied on the pressure points and scleromas with Ren's hooked acupuncture knife; routine blocking therapy was applied in blocking therapy group. The curative effects of both groups after 1-2 treatments and the recurrence after treatment in following 6 months were observed.

RESULTSThe curative rate was 98.2% (161/164)in acupuncture knife therapy group, superior to that of 65.7% (92/140) in blocking therapy group; the recurrence rate was 1.9% (3/161) in acupuncture knife therapy group, inferior to that of 37.0% (34/92) in blocking therapy group. The differences are significant between groups (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of stenosing tenovaginitis of flexor digitorum treated with acupuncture knife therapy is superior to that of blocking therapy, with low recurrence rate.