Analysis of therapeuttic effect of lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences of therapeutic effect in lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians and Methylcobalamin with oral administration, and explore the best time for plum-blossom needle intervention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases of lower limb sensation disorder caused by nucleus pulposus discectomy of lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into a plum-blossom needle group (40 cases) and a western medication group (40 cases). In plum-blossom needle group, tapping with plum-blossom needle along meridians was received, the meridians located at sensation areas which were dominated by relevant segmental nerve root in operation were selected the lower limb section of the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin was selected for operation at L3/L4; the lower limb section of the Gall Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang was selected for operation at L4 /L5; the lower limb section of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang was selected for operation at L5/S1; once treatment was applied every 3 days, and 20 times treatments were applied totally. In western medication group, Methylcobalamin was orally taken for 500 microg, 3 times a day. The recovery of lower limb sensation disorder was evaluated and compared by the comprehensive evaluation method of sensory function of body nerve after 2 months in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 90.0% (36/40) in plum-blossom needle group, superior to that of 60.0% (24/40) in western medication group (P < 0.05). In plum-blossom needle group, the effect for the cases which received treatment within one month after operation was superior to that received treatment during 1-3 months after operation (P < 0.05); and there was no significant differences between the cases which received the treatment during 1-3 months after operation and more than 3 months after operation (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians is superior to that of Methylcobalamin with oral administration; the plum-blossom needle intervention within one month after operation can receive the best effect.</p>