Pharmacopuncture and joint movement manual therapy for post-traumatic phalangeal osteoarthritis: A case report.

Researchers reported on a 38-year-old man who developed post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in his right index finger after a judo injury. PTOA is a type of arthritis that can develop after injuries like fractures or ligament tears, and currently has no FDA-approved specific treatment. The patient came to the clinic three months after his injury with finger pain, swelling, limited movement, and an MRI-confirmed partial tear of a ligament in the fingertip joint. He received a combination treatment approach involving intra-articular pharmacopuncture (injection of human placenta extract into the joint) and joint movement manual therapy over 10 sessions. The results were significant: his pain score dropped from 8.4 out of 10 to just 0.4, his disability score improved from 44 to 13, finger swelling decreased slightly, and his range of motion was nearly fully restored. This case is particularly noteworthy because there is limited research on PTOA affecting finger joints and how to effectively treat it. While this report describes only one patient's experience and cannot prove the treatment works for everyone, it suggests that pharmacopuncture combined with manual therapy may offer a promising treatment option for people suffering from finger joint arthritis following trauma. The improvements in pain, function, and mobility were substantial and occurred relatively quickly. If you're considering acupuncture or related treatments for post-traumatic arthritis, seek a qualified, licensed acupuncturist with experience in treating joint conditions.

This case report documents treatment outcomes for a 38-year-old male with post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) of the right second distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint following judo injury, confirmed by MRI showing partial ulnar collateral ligament tear. The patient presented three months post-onset with pain, reduced ROM, and joint enlargement. Intervention consisted of intra-articular hominis placenta pharmacopuncture combined with joint movement manual therapy over 10 sessions. Outcome measures demonstrated clinically significant improvements: VAS decreased from 8.4 to 0.4, QuickDASH score reduced from 44 to 13, joint circumference decreased minimally (5.5 to 5.4 cm), and ROM showed near-complete recovery based on photographic documentation. The case demonstrates potential efficacy of combined pharmacopuncture and manual therapy for phalangeal PTOA, a condition with limited evidence-based treatment options. Single-case design limits generalizability; controlled studies are needed to establish treatment protocols and confirm therapeutic mechanisms for this presentation of PTOA.