Clinical Observation Of Jiawei Shaoyao Gancao Decoction On Treating Lower Limb Spasticity After Spinal Cord Injury

Objective:To explore the clinical outcomes of Jiawei Shaoyao Gancao Decoction combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of lower limb spasticity after spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods:46 SCI patients complicated by lower limb spasticity from Nov.2013 to Nov.2014 in Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command were randomly divided into two groups according to the admission time sequence:1) treatment group, in which patients were adopted rehabilitation training combined with Jiawei Shaoyao Gancao Decoction; 2) control group, in which patients were adopted rehabilitation training alone.Administration of Jiawei Shaoyao Gancao Decoction was performed once a day for successive 28 days. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS), clinical spasticity Index (CSI) were compared to evaluate the situation of lower limb spasticity and movement function of the patients at the predefined time points (pre-treatment and 7 days and 28 days post-treatment).Data of both groups were analyzed using SPSS 17.0.Results:1、General data comparison:There were no significantly statistical differences between both groups in terms of gender, age, position, classification of spinal cord injury(P>0.05).2、Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) comparison:There was no significantly difference between both groups in terms of MAS scores before treatment(P>0.05), but there was significantly difference 7 days and 28 days after treatment(P<0.05). The MAS scores in the treatment group after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group.3、MAS efficacy comparison:There was significantly difference between both groups in terms of CSI scores 7 days and 28 days after treatment(P<0.05).The MAS efficacy in the treatment group was better than those in the control group.4、Clinical spasticity index (CSI) comparison:There was no significantly difference between both groups in terms of CSI scores before treatment(P>0.05), but there was significantly difference 7 days and 28 days after treatment(P<0.05). The CSI scores in the treatment group(8.61±0.54,7.83±0.54) were significantly lower than those in the control group(10.35±0.53,9.39±0.57). Conclusion:Oral administration of Jiawei Shaoyao Gancao Decoction, combined with rehabilitation training, significantly improved the spasm of SCI patients and promoted the recovery of lower limb function, which indicated the possibility of developing Shaoyao Gancao Decoction as a therapeutic agent for SCI patients with lower limb spasticity.