Tinnitus and electroacupuncture

Name of treatment	Electroacupuncture
Type of treatment	Physical intervention
Claims for treatment	Reduces/eliminates the tinnitus percept.
How treatment is delivered	A small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles which are inserted at points on the body.
Potential negative consequences	Possibility of tissue damage and electrolysis[1]. Risk of infection transmission.
Evidence offered:
Papers available	5 (as per systematic review[2])
Conclusions drawn	No convincing evidence that electroacupuncture is beneficial for treating tinnitus could be found²
Quality of evidence[3]	A
Does the BTA recommend this treatment?	No
BTA opinion on this treatment:	There is no evidence that this treatment is effective.
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment?	Yes, if high quality study
Verdict: Safety - is this treatment harmful?	Limited potential for harm
Verdict: Efficacy - does this treatment work?	No evidence of effect

[1] Lytle CD, Thomas BM, Gordon EA, Krauthamer V . Electrostimulators for acupuncture: safety issues. J Altern Complement Med. 2000. 6 (1): 37–44. doi:10.1089/acm.2000.6.37. PMID 1070623

[2] He M, Li X, Liu Y, et al. Electroacupuncture for Tinnitus: A Systematic Review. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0150600. Published 2016 Mar 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150600

[3] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands

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Tinnitus_and_electroacupuncture_June_2019.pdf

Updated 11 June 2019

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