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Thread Embedding vs. Electroacupuncture for Post-Stroke Aphasia

NCT06864442 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2025-03-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial was to learn if thread embedding or electroacupuncture can treat language function impairment in patients with post-stroke aphasia, a condition affecting communication after a stroke. The main questions it aimed to answer were:

Does thread embedding improve overall language function more effectively than electroacupuncture, as measured by the Goodglass and Kaplan Aphasia Severity Rating Scale (ASRS)? How do thread embedding and electroacupuncture compare in improving specific language skills, such as motor speech, sensory language, reading, and naming, as assessed by the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE)? Researchers compared thread embedding (TE group) to electroacupuncture (EA group) to see if thread embedding provides better or similar effects on language recovery.

Participants:

Underwent a 30-day intervention with language assessments at the start and end of the period.

Were randomly assigned to either the thread embedding group, receiving treatment every 10 days, or the electroacupuncture group, receiving daily 20-minute sessions.

Conditions

  • Post-stroke Aphasia

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Catgut Thread Embedding

Catgut Thread Embedding involved implanting chromic catgut size 4.0 thread, which is attached to a 23G guide needle, into subcutaneous tissue at EX-HN21 acupoint. The guide needle was removed after insertion, while the thread remained and dissolved over 10-15 days to provide continuous stimulation.

PROCEDURE

Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture was administered using four needles (0.3 × 25 mm, diameter × length) inserted at GV-20, EX-HN21, external EX-HN12, and external EX-HN13 acupoints. Electrical stimulation was delivered via the KWD-808I Multipurpose Health Device (Changzhou Yingdi Electronic Medical Device Co., China) with parameters set at 3 Hz frequency and 0.6 ms pulse width, the intensity was adjusted according to the patient's perception. Electroacupuncture was performed daily, except on Saturdays, Sundays, and Vietnamese national holidays, over a treatment course of 30 days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • School of Medicine - Vietnam National University at Ho Chi Minh city

    collaborator OTHER

  • Traditional Medicine Hospital at Dak Lak Province

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Loc Cong Dai Tran, MD

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Minh-Anh Ngo Le Nguyen, Doctor of Philosophy · University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Linh Anh Truong, Master of Science · Tay Nguyen University, Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-08-01
Primary Completion
2022-07-31
Completion
2022-07-31

Countries

  • Vietnam

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06864442 on ClinicalTrials.gov