Post Covid-19 Finger Stiffness with Liver Contraction and Immediate Recovery with Acupuncture: Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Many Covid-19 patients suffer from various aberrant inflammatory pathologies due to cytokine storm. Besides pharmacologic therapy, acupuncture therapy has been reported to be effective in treating inflammation. This case report shared one case of post Covid-19 patient with finger stiffness and liver contraction treated by acupuncture. Methods: This is a case report of using acupuncture to treat post Covid-19 patient with finger stiffness and evidence of liver contraction based on ultrasound imaging. Evaluation is based on patient reported outcome measures (PROM) and ultrasound imaging of the liver. Results: The patient is a female, 52 years old, suffering from post-Covid-19 finger stiffness and liver contraction as shown by ultrasound imaging. Clinical diagnosis based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was liver blood deficiency pattern (ICD-11: SF54). Acupuncture therapy was done accordingly to soothe the liver Qi and replenish the liver blood deficiency. Soon afterwards, the stiffness was greatly relieved with simultaneous improvement in her liver volume. Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy is effective for treating post Covid-19 patient with finger stiffness and liver contraction as shown in the aforementioned case.