Effect of electroacupuncture for Pisa syndrome in Parkinson’s disease: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Pisa syndrome (PS) refers to marked lateral flexion of the trunk with a Cobb angle greater than 10°, which is typically mobile and can be resolved by lying down. PS is one of the most common postural deformities secondary to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and can aggravate scoliosis in the advanced stages of PD.

CASE SUMMARY

Here, we present the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with lateral curvature for 6 mo. Full spine X-ray films in the correct position showed that the thoracolumbar spine was bent to the right without any rotation of the vertebrae. The patient was diagnosed with Pisa syndrome. After receiving a month’s treatment with electroacupuncture, the Cobb angle decreased from 18.14° to 13.41°.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates that electroacupuncture can effectively improve Pisa syndrome secondary to PD with few side effects and a low risk of recurrence. Additionally, early accurate diagnosis and timely intervention are meaningful for the prognosis of PS.

Keywords: Pisa syndrome; Scoliosis; Parkinson disease; Electroacupuncture; Postural deformities; Case report

Core Tip: Pisa syndrome is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, can progress to scoliosis and may even be disabling. Currently, there is still a lack of effective treatments without side effects. We propose a new method, electroacupuncture, which may improve lateral curvature by relaxing the paraspinous muscles and modulating brain metabolism. This can ameliorate Pisa syndrome and delay the progression of PD by simultaneously treating the symptoms and disease. Thus, electroacupuncture may be an effective and beneficial treatment option for patients with Pisa syndrome.