Clinical Observation of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Protrusion Patients Treated with Acupotomy Therapy Combined with Acupuncture Based on Distal Points Selection / 广州中医药大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of acupotomy therapy combined with acupuncture based on distal points selection for lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion ( LIDP) . Methods Sixty-eight LIDP patients were randomly divided into treatment group (N=33) and control group(N=35). The treatment group were given acupotomy therapy on the proximal positive response points in the lumbosacral region for relaxing the tendons,and acupuncture therapy based on distal points selection of Shugu, the Shu-stream point of the foot Taiyang bladder meridian, Zulinqi and Weizhong, the shu-stream point and the blood xi-cleft point of the foot Shaoyang gallbladder meridian respectively, twice a week, 2 weeks constituting one course of treatment. The control group was given conventional electroacupuncture therapy on Huatuo clip points, Dachangshu point, bilateral Shenshu points, Yinmen point, bilateral Zibian points and bilateral Yanglingquan points, and together with TDP radiation therapy, 5 times a week, 2 weeks constituting one course of treatment. The two groups received follow-up for one month. The low back pain scores of Japanese orthopaedic society ( JOA) and visual analog scores ( VAS) of pain were used for the evaluation of therapeutic effect after the treatment. Results ( 1) After treatment, the JOA scores were increased and VAS scores were decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment ( P< 0.05) , and the increase of JOA scores and the decrease of VAS in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group ( P< 0.05) . There was statistically significant difference of VAS scores between the two groups ( P < 0.05) during the follow-up period. ( 2) The total effective rate was 87.9%in the treatment group, and was 77.1%in the control group, the difference being significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion The acupotomy therapy combined with acupuncture based on distal points selection is effective and safe for lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion, which has the advantages of reliable long-term effect and low recurrence rate, showing good prospects for extensive clinical application.