A clinical observation on through moxibustion combined with electric acupuncture for treatment of patients with cervical spondylosis radiculopathy by wind-cold impediment / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of through moxibustion combined with electric acupuncture versus electric acupuncture alone for treatment of patients with cervical spondylosis radiculopathy (CSR), so as to provide a basis for optimizing clinical treatment.Methods A prospective study was conducted. Sixty patients with CSR treated in the clinic of Acupuncture Department as outpatients or admitted into the department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University as inpatients were enrolled, and according to the random number table, they were divided into through moxibustion combined with electric acupuncture treatment group (observation group) and conventional electric acupuncture treatment group (control group), 30 cases in each group. The main acupoints of the observation group were as follows Fengchi, Dazhui, Tianzhu, Houxi, Cervical Jiaji points, Shenshu, Mingmen, in cases with significant neck and shoulder pain, supporting points were added such as Jianjing, Tianzong, in cases with severe arm and finger numbness and pain, Quchi, Hegu, Waiguan, and in cases with marked dizziness and headache, Baihui, Temple acupoints were added. The needle 0.30 mm × 40 mm in size was chosen to be applied, at bilateral neck Jiaji points, direct subcutaneous needling (piercing) was made, at Dazhui, the piercing of needle for 1 to 1.5 inches was performed (body inch), at Mingmen, reinforcing method was used for piercing, at Shenshu, 0.30 mm × 50 mm needle was chosen for piercing with reinforcing method, and at the rest acupoints, conventional neutral supplementation and drainage method of acupuncture was applied. After obtaining qi from needling, electric needle device was added, the current strength used for individual patient depended on his or her degree of tolerance, the needle retention being 20 minutes, and during the above process, at Dazhui and a set of neck Jiaji points, moxibustion with moxa was applied. The acupoints used in the control group were the same as those in the observation group except moxibustion, other procedures were similar to those in the observation group. In both groups, the therapy was taken once a day for consecutive 5 days in a week, constituting one therapeutic course, and after two courses, the changes of clinical symptom scores and clinical efficacies were observed.Results After treatment, the clinical symptom scores in two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (control group 15.68±2.01 vs. 7.10±1.87, observation group18.13±1.69 vs. 7.92±2.14), and the degree of improvement in the observation group was more significant (P < 0.01). After treatment, the total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [96.67% (29/30) vs. 83.33% (25/30),P < 0.05].Conclusion The clinical therapeutic effect of through moxibustion combined with electric acupuncture for treatment of patients with CSR is better than that of electric acupuncture alone, so there is certain feasibility.