Clinical outcome of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation combined with hysteroscopy in uterine incision defect after cesarean section.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation combined with hysteroscopic treatment for uterine incision defect after cesarean section [previous cesarean scar defect (PCSD)] after cesarean section.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study. A total of 120 PCSD patients were enrolled from February 2022 to February 2023 and divided into two groups according to different treatment methods, the TCM group (n = 60) and the control group (n = 60). The control group was treated with hysteroscopy, and the TCM group combined TCM syndrome differentiation with hysteroscopy. Clinical outcome included menstrual scores, menstrual days, TCM symptom scores and intrauterine pregnancy recurrence rate was analyzed in two groups.

Results: The total response rate of the TCM group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the menstrual scores, menstrual days and TCM symptoms of the two groups were decreased, and the menstrual scores, menstrual days and TCM symptoms of the TCM group were all lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05); the recurrence rate of the TCM group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Follow-up results showed higher healing of incisional scar diverticulum in the TCM group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The duration of menstruation before and after treatment, and the TCM group was better than the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: TCM syndrome differentiation combined with hysteroscopy presented favorable outcome on the prolonged menstrual period of PCSD, which could significantly improve the recovery of menstruation, relief the symptoms of TCM, reduce the recurrence rate and accelerate wound healing.